---
title: theory — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «theory» in the school dictionary: A theory is a well-tested explanation of how something in nature works, supported by a lot of evidence, like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# theory

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** theory, someone, idea, subject, things, living things · **What happens:** test, be, support, have, explain, not be · **To what, where:** tested explanation, idea, something, theory, cake, ideas · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«theory» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [theory in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/theory.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A theory is a well-tested explanation of how something in nature works, supported by a lot of evidence, like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:m1:1
# text = A theory is a well-tested explanation of how something in nature works, supported by a lot of evidence, like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	tested	test	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	works	work	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	supported	support	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	_
31	of	of	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	gravity	gravity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a theory | a tested explanation |  |  |  | of something; like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity | tree rules |
| 3 | **support** | participle |  | a tested explanation *not said here* |  |  |  | by a lot of evidence | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 theory is an idea someone has to explain something, which may or may not be true, as in "I have a theory about who ate the cake".

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:m2:1
# text = A theory is an idea someone has to explain something, which may or may not be true, as in "I have a theory about who ate the cake".
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
13	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
17	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	cop	_	_
18	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
20	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
27	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	29	mark	_	_
28	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	29	nsubj	_	_
29	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	26	acl:relcl	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a theory | a idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | someone | a idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | a idea *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **is** | may |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **have** *in a quote* | present | a idea *= idea* | a theory |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Patient |
| 6 | **eat** *in a quote* | past | a theory | the cake |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Theory is the ideas and rules of a subject, as opposed to practice, like music theory.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:m3:1
# text = Theory is the ideas and rules of a subject, as opposed to practice, like music theory.
1	Theory	Theory	PROPN	NNP	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	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	opposed	oppose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Theory | the ideas and rules of a subject |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **oppose** | participle |  | the ideas and rules of a subject *not said here* |  |  |  | to practice | vn amalgamate-22.2-3 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **rule** |  | a subject |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"In theory" means what should happen if things go as planned, though they might not.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:m4:1
# text = "In theory" means what should happen if things go as planned, though they might not.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	_
7	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
9	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	planned	plan	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | theory |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | should |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **go** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | things |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **plan** | participle | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Darwin's theory of evolution explains how living things change over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x1:1
# text = Darwin's theory of evolution explains how living things change over time.
1	Darwin	Darwin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	explains	explain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
11	over	over	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | Darwin's theory of evolution |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | present | living things |  |  |  | time |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have a theory that the cat ate the fish fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x2:1
# text = I have a theory that the cat ate the fish fingers.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | a theory |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | past | the cat | the fish fingers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In theory, the bus comes every ten minutes, but it never does.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x3:1
# text = In theory, the bus comes every ten minutes, but it never does.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
8	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | the bus |  |  | theory | minute |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in theory=Location |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | bus |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective tested her theory by checking the footprints.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x4:1
# text = The detective tested her theory by checking the footprints.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	checking	check	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	footprints	footprint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | the detective | detective's theory |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Theme |
| 2 | **check** | gerund | the detective *not said here* | the footprints |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footprint=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I passed my music theory exam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x5:1
# text = I passed my music theory exam.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | past | I | my theory exam |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme exam=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists test a theory by doing experiments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x6:1
# text = Scientists test a theory by doing experiments.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	test	test	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	experiments	experiment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | present | Scientists | a theory |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | Scientists *not said here* | experiments |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) Some people believe in silly conspiracy theories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x7:1
# text = (informal) Some people believe in silly conspiracy theories.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	NUM	LS	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	conspiracy	conspiracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	theories	theory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | some people |  |  | silly conspiracy theories |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I am not prepared to form a theory about these stories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:theory:x8:1
# text = "I am not prepared to form a theory about these stories.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	prepared	prepare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	form	form	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
12	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **prepare** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **form** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive |  | a theory |  |  |  | about this stories | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location theory=Theme |

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**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.

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