---
title: vow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vow» in the school dictionary: A vow is a serious promise, often a solemn or religious one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# vow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** vow, you, Wedding vows, couple, vows, monks · **What happens:** be, vow, do, make, marry, take · **To what, where:** serious promise, something, promises, vows, God, vow · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A vow is a serious promise, often a solemn or religious one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:m1:1
# text = A vow is a serious promise, often a solemn or religious one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vow	vow	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	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a vow | a serious promise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To vow is to promise firmly that you will do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:m2:1
# text = To vow is to promise firmly that you will do something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	vow	vow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	promise	promise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** *speech: promise* | present |  |  |  |  |  | firmly, promise *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | future | you | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wedding vows are the promises a couple make when they marry; monks and nuns take vows to God.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:m3:1
# text = Wedding vows are the promises a couple make when they marry; monks and nuns take vows to God.
1	Wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	vows	vow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	promises	promise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	couple	couple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	marry	marry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	nuns	nun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
17	vows	vow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wedding vows | the promises |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | a couple | the promises *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset promise=Product |
| 3 | **marry** | present | vows *= vow* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **take** | present | monks and nuns | vows | God |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent vow=Theme to god=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight made a vow to protect the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x1:1
# text = The knight made a vow to protect the king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	vow	vow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	king	king	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 | **make** | past | the knight | a vow |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vow=Product |
| 2 | **protect** | to-infinitive | the knight *not said here* |  | the king |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She vowed never to tell the secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x2:1
# text = She vowed never to tell the secret.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	vowed	vow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **vow** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the secret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the wedding they said their vows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x3:1
# text = At the wedding they said their vows.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	vows	vow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | they | their vows |  | the wedding |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent vow=Topic |
| 2 | **vow** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom vow «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The monks took vows of silence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x4:1
# text = The monks took vows of silence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	vows	vow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the monks | vows of silence |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vow=Theme |
| 2 | **vow** |  |  | silence |  |  |  |  | nom vow «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I vowed to practise the piano every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x5:1
# text = I vowed to practise the piano every day.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	vowed	vow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vow** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **practise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the piano |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breaking a vow is a serious thing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x6:1
# text = Breaking a vow is a serious thing.
1	Breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	vow	vow	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	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	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 | **break** | gerund |  | a vow |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer vow=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Breaking | a serious thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The friends vowed to stay in touch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x7:1
# text = The friends vowed to stay in touch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	vowed	vow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	touch	touch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vow** | past | the friends |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the friends *not said here* |  |  | touch |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in touch=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Indeed, I have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vow:x8:1
# text = Indeed, I have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad."
1	Indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	vow	vow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
12	Bagdad	bagdad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · perfect | I | a vow |  |  |  | indeed *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vow=Product |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | Bagdad |  |  | again |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bagdad=Theme |

<!-- 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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