---
title: vacation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vacation» in the school dictionary: A holiday: a time away from school or work, often travelling somewhere for fun. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# vacation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** school, they, We, Summer vacation, Dad, Our · **What happens:** travel, close, spend, vacation, go, last · **To what, where:** schools, time, holiday, Florida, vacation, town · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A holiday: a time away from school or work, often travelling somewhere for fun.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:m1:1
# text = A holiday: a time away from school or work, often travelling somewhere for fun.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	travelling	travel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
14	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	13	advmod	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | gerund | school or work *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for fun; often, somewhere *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time when schools or universities are closed, like the summer vacation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:m2:1
# text = The time when schools or universities are closed, like the summer vacation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
4	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	universities	university	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | present · passive |  | schools or universities |  |  |  | like the summer vacation | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time when British universities and law courts are closed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:m3:1
# text = The time when British universities and law courts are closed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
4	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	universities	university	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	courts	court	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spend a holiday somewhere: they vacation in Florida.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:m4:1
# text = To spend a holiday somewhere: they vacation in Florida.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spend	spend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	vacation	vacation	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Florida	Florida	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | to-infinitive |  | a holiday |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent holiday=Asset |
| 2 | **vacation** | present | they |  |  | Florida |  |  | vn weekend-56 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in florida=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went on vacation to the beach last summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x1:1
# text = We went on vacation to the beach last summer.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We |  |  | vacation | summer | to the beach | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Summer vacation lasts about ten weeks in our town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x2:1
# text = Summer vacation lasts about ten weeks in our town.
1	Summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lasts	last	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | present | Summer vacation |  |  | our town | week |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad took a week's vacation from work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x3:1
# text = Dad took a week's vacation from work.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	work	work	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 | **take** | past | Dad | a week's vacation |  | work |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent vacation=Theme from work=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They vacation at the lake every year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x4:1
# text = They vacation at the lake every year.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	vacation	vacation	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lake	lake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vacation** | present | They |  |  | the lake | year |  | vn weekend-56 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at lake=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our vacation cost 1,200 dollars for the hotel and 300 dollars for food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x5:1
# text = Our vacation cost 1,200 dollars for the hotel and 300 dollars for food.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cost	cost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	1,200	1200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hotel	hotel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom cost «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Britain my cousin calls it "the summer holidays".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x6:1
# text = In Britain my cousin calls it "the summer holidays".
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | my cousin | it |  | Britain |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme holiday=Result |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
While the family was on vacation, a neighbour fed the cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x7:1
# text = While the family was on vacation, a neighbour fed the cat.
1	While	while	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	fed	feed	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	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 | **is** | past | the family |  |  | vacation |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feed** | past | a neighbour |  | the cat |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vacation begins on the first of January and ends on the last day of December.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vacation:x8:1
# text = Vacation begins on the first of January and ends on the last day of December.
1	Vacation	vacation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	begins	begin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	first	first	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	January	January	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	December	December	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | present | Vacation |  |  | the first of January |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **end** | present | Vacation *not said here* |  |  |  | day |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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