---
title: topic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «topic» in the school dictionary: A topic is the subject that people talk, write or learn about. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# topic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** topic, that, you, your, first sentence, Dinosaurs · **What happens:** be, talk, write, learn, choose, speak · **To what, where:** subject, theme, school, rainforest, topic, topic sentence · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A topic is the subject that people talk, write or learn about.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:m1:1
# text = A topic is the subject that people talk, write or learn about.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a topic | the subject |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **write** | infinitive | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **learn** | infinitive | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
In school, a topic is a theme the class studies for some weeks, such as «Space» or «The Romans».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:m2:1
# text = In school, a topic is a theme the class studies for some weeks, such as «Space» or «The Romans».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	theme	theme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	studies	study	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Space	space	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a topic | a theme |  | school |  | the class studies for some weeks *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our topic this term is the rainforest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x1:1
# text = Our topic this term is the rainforest.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod:unmarked	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rainforest	rainforest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our topic  this term | the rainforest |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Choose a topic for your speech.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x2:1
# text = Choose a topic for your speech.
1	Choose	choose	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | imperative | you *not said here* | a topic |  |  |  | for your speech | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent topic=Theme for speech=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **speak** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first sentence of a paragraph is often the topic sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x3:1
# text = The first sentence of a paragraph is often the topic sentence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	paragraph	paragraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the first sentence of a paragraph | the topic sentence |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sentence** |  |  | a paragraph |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinosaurs are my favourite topic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x4:1
# text = Dinosaurs are my favourite topic.
1	Dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	topic	topic	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 a** | present | Dinosaurs | my favourite topic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When I asked about my report card, Dad changed the topic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x5:1
# text = When I asked about my report card, Dad changed the topic.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | I |  |  |  |  | about my report card | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.topic whether S»: agent=Agent about card=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | past | Dad | the topic |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent topic=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please stay on topic during the discussion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x6:1
# text = Please stay on topic during the discussion.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	discussion	discussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | topic | during the discussion |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on topic=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Climate is a hot topic on the news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x7:1
# text = Climate is a hot topic on the news.
1	Climate	climate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Climate | a hot topic |  | the news |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Oh no," replied the counsellor; "I can only discourse on topics which every one should understand."

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topic:x8:1
# text = "Oh no," replied the counsellor; "I can only discourse on topics which every one should understand."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	_
3	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	counsellor	counsellor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	only	only	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	discourse	discourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	topics	topic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	21	obj	_	_
18	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	19	det	_	_
19	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | the counsellor |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **discourse** *in a quote* | can | the counsellor *= counsellor* |  |  | topics |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** *in a quote* | should | every one | topics |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer which=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 -->

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