---
title: theft — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «theft» in the school dictionary: Theft is the crime of stealing, taking something that belongs to someone else without permission and without meaning to give it back. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/) / theft

# theft

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Theft, Identity theft, you, Shoplifting, he · **What happens:** be, take, belong, mean, give back, report · **To what, where:** crime, something, Theft, one act, police, changing rooms

<!-- .vabout -->
«theft» 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: [theft in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/theft.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Theft is the crime of stealing, taking something that belongs to someone else without permission and without meaning to give it back.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:m1:1
# text = Theft is the crime of stealing, taking something that belongs to someone else without permission and without meaning to give it back.
1	Theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	stealing	stealing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	belongs	belong	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obl	_	_
14	else	else	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	without	without	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	_
23	back	back	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Theft | the crime |  |  |  | of stealing | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | without permission | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **belong** | present |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **mean** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **give back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | Theft |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A theft is one act of stealing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:m2:1
# text = A theft is one act of stealing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stealing	stealing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a theft | one act |  |  |  | of stealing | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The theft of the bike was reported to the police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x1:1
# text = The theft of the bike was reported to the police.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	reported	report	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | past · passive |  | the theft of the bike | the police |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: subject=Topic to police=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Theft is against the law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x2:1
# text = Theft is against the law.
1	Theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	against	against	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Theft |  |  |  |  | against the law | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There has been a theft from the changing rooms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x3:1
# text = There has been a theft from the changing rooms.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	been	be	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	changing	changing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	rooms	room	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present · perfect | a theft |  |  | the changing rooms; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identity theft can happen online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x4:1
# text = Identity theft can happen online.
1	Identity	identity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	online	online	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | can | Identity theft |  |  |  |  | online *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lock your bike to prevent theft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x5:1
# text = Lock your bike to prevent theft.
1	Lock	lock	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	prevent	prevent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lock** | imperative | you *not said here* | your bike |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Patient |
| 2 | **prevent** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | theft |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer theft=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum was closed after the theft of a painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x6:1
# text = The museum was closed after the theft of a painting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	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	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | past · passive |  | the museum |  |  | after the theft of a painting |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoplifting is a kind of theft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x7:1
# text = Shoplifting is a kind of theft.
1	Shoplifting	shoplifting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shoplifting | a kind |  |  |  | of theft | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On discovering the theft, he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his loss.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theft:x8:1
# text = On discovering the theft, he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his loss.
1	On	on	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	discovering	discover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	breast	breast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	bewailed	bewail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discover** | gerund | he *not said here* | the theft |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theft=Topic |
| 2 | **beat** | past | he | his breast |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location breast=Theme |
| 3 | **bewail** | past | he *not said here* | his loss |  |  |  | loudly *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer loss=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [theatrical](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theatrical/)
- next →: [them](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/them/)
- ↑ back to [T in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/)