---
title: sue — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sue» in the school dictionary: To sue someone is to go to a court of law to ask for money or justice because they harmed you or broke an agreement. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sue

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** money, Sue, their, man, They, court · **What happens:** sue, be, ask, harm, break, marry · **To what, where:** someone, you, agreement, name, them, shop · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sue» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [sue in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sue.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sue someone is to go to a court of law to ask for money or justice because they harmed you or broke an agreement.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:m1:1
# text = To sue someone is to go to a court of law to ask for money or justice because they harmed you or broke an agreement.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sue	sue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	justice	justice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	harmed	harm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
21	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	conj	_	_
24	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sue** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | to a court of law; go *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for money or justice | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **harm** | past | money | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |
| 5 | **break** | past | money *not said here* | a agreement |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer agreement=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sue (with a capital S) is a girl's name, short for Susan.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:m2:1
# text = Sue (with a capital S) is a girl's name, short for Susan.
1	Sue	Sue	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
6	S	's	PART	POS	Typo=Yes	5	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Susan	Susan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sue | a girl's name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sue for someone's hand is to ask for their permission to marry them.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:m3:1
# text = To sue for someone's hand is to ask for their permission to marry them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sue	sue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	marry	marry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sue** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for someone's hand | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for their permission; ask *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **marry** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 4 | **permit** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom permission «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The man sued the shop because he slipped on a wet floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x1:1
# text = The man sued the shop because he slipped on a wet floor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sued	sue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sue** | past | the man | the shop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slip** | past | man |  |  | a wet floor |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They threatened to sue if the money was not paid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x2:1
# text = They threatened to sue if the money was not paid.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	sue	sue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sue** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | They *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **pay** *a condition, not said to happen* | past · passive |  | the money |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A court decides who wins when someone sues.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x3:1
# text = A court decides who wins when someone sues.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	wins	win	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sues	sue	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | a court |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **win** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **sue** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt Sue is coming for tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x4:1
# text = My aunt Sue is coming for tea.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	Sue	Sue	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present · progressive | My aunt |  |  |  |  | for tea | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company was sued for selling unsafe toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x5:1
# text = The company was sued for selling unsafe toys.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sued	sue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	selling	sell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sue** | past · passive |  | the company |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sell** | gerund |  | unsafe toys |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toy=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can't sue someone just because they were rude.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x6:1
# text = You can't sue someone just because they were rude.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	sue	sue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sue** | can | You | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | they |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Well, they got ready for the journey and set off to sue for the hand of the Princess Anna the Fair.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sue:x7:1
# text = Well, they got ready for the journey and set off to sue for the hand of the Princess Anna the Fair.
1	Well	well	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	journey	journey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	set	set	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
11	off	off	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	sue	sue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Fair	Fair	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | they |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **set off** | infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **sue** | infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the hand of the Princess Anna | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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