---
title: thesis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thesis» in the school dictionary: A thesis is a long piece of writing based on research, written for a university degree, such as a PhD. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thesis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thesis, writer, claim, big sister, thesis statement, Your · **What happens:** be, base, write, want, prove, come · **To what, where:** long piece, research, main idea, claim, thesis, start · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«thesis» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [thesis in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thesis.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thesis is a long piece of writing based on research, written for a university degree, such as a PhD.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:m1:1
# text = A thesis is a long piece of writing based on research, written for a university degree, such as a PhD.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	research	research	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	degree	degree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	22	case	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	PhD	phd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thesis | a long piece |  |  |  | of writing | tree rules |
| 2 | **base** | participle |  | a long piece *not said here* |  | research |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent on research=Source |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for a university degree and a PhD | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for degree=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 thesis is the main idea or claim that a writer or speaker wants to prove: «My thesis is that school should start later».

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:m2:1
# text = A thesis is the main idea or claim that a writer or speaker wants to prove: «My thesis is that school should start later».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	speaker	speaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
22	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
24	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
26	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thesis | the main idea or claim |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **want** | present | a writer or speaker | claim *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **prove** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | claim *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | should · present | My thesis |  |  |  |  | late, start *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big sister is writing her thesis on bees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x1:1
# text = My big sister is writing her thesis on bees.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	writing	write	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · progressive | My big sister | sister's thesis |  |  |  | on bees | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent thesis=Theme on bee=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your thesis statement should come at the start of your essay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x2:1
# text = Your thesis statement should come at the start of your essay.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | should | Your thesis statement |  |  | the start of your essay |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at start=Location |
| 2 | **state** |  | Your |  |  |  |  |  | nom statement «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 3 | **start** |  |  | your essay |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |
| 4 | **essay** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His thesis is that dinosaurs were warm-blooded.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x3:1
# text = His thesis is that dinosaurs were warm-blooded.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	blooded	blooded	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His thesis |  |  |  |  | blooded *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She spent three years on her PhD thesis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x4:1
# text = She spent three years on her PhD thesis.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	PhD	phd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	thesis	thesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | She |  |  |  | year | on her PhD thesis *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent on thesis=Goal |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The writer gives three reasons to support her thesis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x5:1
# text = The writer gives three reasons to support her thesis.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	support	support	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	thesis	thesis	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 | **give** | present | the writer | three reasons |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 2 | **support** | to-infinitive | the writer *not said here* | writer's thesis |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer thesis=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The professor read hundreds of theses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thesis:x6:1
# text = The professor read hundreds of theses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	professor	professor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	theses	these	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the professor | hundreds of theses |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hundred=Topic |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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