---
title: twopence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «twopence» in the school dictionary: The sum of two pennies in British money. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# twopence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sweets, you, I, She, Twelve pennies, Two twopences · **What happens:** sum, use, not care, cost, feed, not give · **To what, where:** two pennies, worth two old pennies, all, twopence, bag, birds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«twopence» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [twopence in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twopence.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sum of two pennies in British money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:m1:1
# text = The sum of two pennies in British money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	pennies	penny	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sum** |  |  | two pennies in British money |  |  |  |  | nom sum «possession transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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: old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A British coin worth two old pennies, used before 1971.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:m2:1
# text = A British coin worth two old pennies, used before 1971.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pennies	penny	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
10	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	1971	1971	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | worth two old pennies *not said here* |  |  | before 1971 |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, «not care twopence» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
to not care at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:m3:1
# text = to not care at all.
1	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	care	care	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **care** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | all |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sweets cost twopence each.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x1:1
# text = The sweets cost twopence each.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cost	cost	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	twopence	twopence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | the sweets | each twopence |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme twopence=Value |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Feed the birds, tuppence a bag!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x2:1
# text = «Feed the birds, tuppence a bag!»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	tuppence	tuppence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | a bag | the birds and tuppence |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent bird=Recipient bag=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I wouldn't give twopence for that old toy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x3:1
# text = I wouldn't give twopence for that old toy.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	twopence	twopence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **give** | would | I | twopence |  |  |  | for that old toy | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent twopence=Theme for toy=Asset |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She found a twopence coin from 1930.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x4:1
# text = She found a twopence coin from 1930.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	twopence	twopence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	1930	1930	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | She | a twopence coin |  | 1930 |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent coin=Theme from 1930=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twelve pennies made one shilling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x5:1
# text = Twelve pennies made one shilling.
1	Twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	pennies	penny	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Twelve pennies | one shilling |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset shilling=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two twopences make fourpence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x6:1
# text = Two twopences make fourpence.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	twopences	twopence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fourpence	fourpence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Two twopences | fourpence |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fourpence=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He didn't care twopence what they said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x7:1
# text = He didn't care twopence what they said.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	twopence	twopence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **care** | past · do-support | He | twopence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you like to give me twopence you can have the rest.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twopence:x8:1
# text = If you like to give me twopence you can have the rest.’
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	twopence	twopence	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **give** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | can | you | the rest |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rest=Patient |

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