---
title: tactic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tactic» in the school dictionary: A planned action or method used to get a result. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tactic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** coach, you, 's, general, Working, team · **What happens:** plan, use, get, arrange, move, win · **To what, where:** planned action, result, way players, game, tactics, tactic

<!-- .vabout -->
«tactic» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [tactic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tactic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A planned action or method used to get a result.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:m1:1
# text = A planned action or method used to get a result.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	planned	plan	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a planned action or method *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | a result |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer result=Stimulus |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: tactics — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way players or soldiers are arranged and moved to win a game or a battle.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:m2:1
# text = The way players or soldiers are arranged and moved to win a game or a battle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	arranged	arrange	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	moved	move	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	battle	battle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrange** | present · passive |  | way players or soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **move** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **win** | to-infinitive |  | a game or a battle |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our coach explained the tactics for the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x1:1
# text = Our coach explained the tactics for the match.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	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	tactics	tactic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | Our coach | the tactics |  |  |  | for the match | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tactic=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crying was his tactic to get sweets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x2:1
# text = Crying was his tactic to get sweets.
1	Crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	tactic	tactic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past |  | his tactic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | sweets |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sweet=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's try a different tactic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x3:1
# text = Let's try a different tactic.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tactic	tactic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | a different tactic |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tactic=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The general used clever tactics to win the battle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x4:1
# text = The general used clever tactics to win the battle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tactics	tactic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	battle	battle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the general | clever tactics |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tactic=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | to-infinitive | the general *not said here* | the battle |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent battle=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Working backwards is a good tactic for some maths problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x5:1
# text = Working backwards is a good tactic for some maths problems.
1	Working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tactic	tactic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
9	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	compound	_	_
10	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | backwards *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Working | a good tactic |  |  |  | for some maths problems | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scare tactics are used to frighten people into doing things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x6:1
# text = Scare tactics are used to frighten people into doing things.
1	Scare	scare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tactics	tactic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	frighten	frighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Scare tactics |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **frighten** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team changed tactics in the second half.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x7:1
# text = The team changed tactics in the second half.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tactics	tactic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the team | tactics |  | the second half |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tactic=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To what extent Hook is to blame for his tactics on this occasion is for the historian to decide.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactic:x8:1
# text = To what extent Hook is to blame for his tactics on this occasion is for the historian to decide.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
3	extent	extent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Hook	hook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	blame	blame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tactics	tactic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	historian	historian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | extent Hook |  |  |  |  | for his tactics; blame *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | this occasion |  | for the historian | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | to-infinitive | extent Hook *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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