---
title: voluntary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «voluntary» in the school dictionary: Voluntary means done because you want to, not because you are forced: voluntary help, voluntary work. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# voluntary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Voluntary, you, voluntary muscle, purpose, Gran, Coming · **What happens:** mean, do, want, not force, pay, help · **To what, where:** you, Voluntary work, others, one, purpose, arm

<!-- .vabout -->
«voluntary» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [voluntary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/voluntary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Voluntary means done because you want to, not because you are forced: voluntary help, voluntary work.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:m1:1
# text = Voluntary means done because you want to, not because you are forced: voluntary help, voluntary work.
1	Voluntary	voluntary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Voluntary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | participle | Voluntary *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **not** **force** | present · passive |  | you |  |  |  | voluntary help  voluntary work *obl* | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
Voluntary work is done without being paid, to help others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:m2:1
# text = Voluntary work is done without being paid, to help others.
1	Voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present · passive |  | Voluntary work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pay** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP» |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A voluntary muscle or movement is one you control on purpose, such as moving your arm.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:m3:1
# text = A voluntary muscle or movement is one you control on purpose, such as moving your arm.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	control	control	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	15	mark	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
16	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a voluntary muscle or movement | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **control** | present | you |  |  | purpose |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **move** | gerund | purpose *not said here* | your arm |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent arm=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gran does voluntary work at the animal shelter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x1:1
# text = Gran does voluntary work at the animal shelter.
1	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shelter	shelter	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 | **do** | present | Gran | voluntary work |  | the animal shelter |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coming to the after-school club is voluntary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x2:1
# text = Coming to the after-school club is voluntary.
1	Coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	voluntary	voluntary	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 | **come** | gerund |  |  |  | the school club |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to club=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | Coming |  |  |  |  | voluntary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving your arm is a voluntary action, but your heartbeat is not.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x3:1
# text = Moving your arm is a voluntary action, but your heartbeat is not.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	heartbeat	heartbeat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  | your arm |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent arm=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Moving | a voluntary action |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** | present | your heartbeat |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum asks for a voluntary donation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x4:1
# text = The museum asks for a voluntary donation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	donation	donation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | the museum |  |  |  |  | for a voluntary donation | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave up his seat voluntarily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x5:1
# text = He gave up his seat voluntarily.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	voluntarily	voluntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give up** | past | He | his seat |  |  |  | voluntarily *property* | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seat=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Voluntary helpers cleaned the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x6:1
# text = Voluntary helpers cleaned the beach.
1	Voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cleaned	clean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beach	beach	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 | **clean** | past | Voluntary helpers | the beach |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent beach=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the voluntary abdication of Oedipus, his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, took possession of the crown and reigned over the city of Thebes.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:voluntary:x7:1
# text = After the voluntary abdication of Oedipus, his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, took possession of the crown and reigned over the city of Thebes.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	voluntary	voluntary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	abdication	abdication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Oedipus	Oedipus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	sons	son	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	Eteocles	Eteocles	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	Polynices	polynice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
16	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	reigned	reign	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	conj	_	_
23	over	over	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	Thebes	thebe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | Oedipus's two sons and Polynices | possession of the crown |  |  | after the voluntary abdication of Oedipus |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possession=Theme |
| 2 | **reign** | participle | Oedipus's two sons and Polynices *not said here* |  |  | the city of Thebes |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **abdicate** |  | Oedipus |  |  |  |  |  | nom abdication «communication intransitive»: of=agent |
| 4 | **possess** |  |  | the crown |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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