---
title: wherefore — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wherefore» in the school dictionary: Why; for what reason. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wherefore/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [W](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/) / wherefore

# wherefore

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he, Romeo, I, you, teacher, old · **What happens:** ask, be, not be, not need, tell, happen · **To what, where:** Romeo, whys, me, bed · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why; for what reason.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:m1:1
# text = Why; for what reason.
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	1	conj	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Therefore; for that reason.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:m2:1
# text = Therefore; for that reason.
1	Therefore	therefore	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whys and wherefores: all the reasons and details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:m3:1
# text = The whys and wherefores: all the reasons and details.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whys	why	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	wherefores	wherefore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Wherefore art thou Romeo?» asks why he is Romeo, not where he is.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x1:1
# text = «Wherefore art thou Romeo?» asks why he is Romeo, not where he is.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wherefore	wherefore	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	art	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Style=Arch|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
4	thou	thou	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	3	obj	_	_
5	Romeo	Romeo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	Romeo	Romeo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
15	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	17	advmod	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | he | Romeo |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** | present | Romeo |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I don't need all the whys and wherefores, just tell me what happened.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x2:1
# text = I don't need all the whys and wherefores, just tell me what happened.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	7	det:predet	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whys	why	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wherefores	wherefore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
13	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	iobj	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	nsubj	_	_
15	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **need** | present · do-support | I | all whys and wherefores |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot why=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wherefore do you weep? (old)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Wherefore do you weep?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x3:1
# text = Wherefore do you weep?
1	Wherefore	wherefore	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	weep	weep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weep** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  | wherefore *property* | vn breathe-40.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (old)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x3:2
# text = (old)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher explained the whys and wherefores of the rule.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x4:1
# text = The teacher explained the whys and wherefores of the rule.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	whys	why	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wherefores	wherefore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher | the whys and wherefores of the rule |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent why=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old plays, wherefore means why.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x5:1
# text = In old plays, wherefore means why.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	plays	play	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	wherefore	wherefore	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in old plays; wherefore *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in play=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(old) He was tired, wherefore he went to bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x6:1
# text = (old) He was tired, wherefore he went to bed.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	wherefore	wherefore	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | old |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | past | he |  |  | bed |  | wherefore *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to bed=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Wherefore did ye tarry so long?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wherefore:x7:1
# text = "Wherefore did ye tarry so long?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wherefore	wherefore	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	ye	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tarry	tarry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [whereabouts](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/whereabouts/)
- next →: [wheresoever](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wheresoever/)
- ↑ back to [W in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/)