explain Who acts: something, you, teacher, game, your, I · What happens: make, understand, describe, give, explain, be · To what, where: something, it, reason, 24, rules, answer · Speech: someone speaks here
«explain» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: explain in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To make something clear or easy to understand by describing it.
mark obj amod cc conj mark xcomp mark advcl obj punct root To PART make VERB something PRON clear ADJ or CCONJ easy ADJ to PART understand VERB by SCONJ describing VERB it PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 make mark 2 make make VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 2 make obj 4 clear clear ADJ Degree=Pos 3 something amod 5 or or CCONJ _ 6 easy cc 6 easy easy ADJ Degree=Pos 4 clear conj 7 to to PART _ 8 understand mark 8 understand understand VERB VerbForm=Inf 6 easy xcomp 9 by by SCONJ _ 10 describing mark 10 describing describe VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 8 understand advcl 11 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 describing obj 12 . . PUNCT _ 2 make punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 make to-infinitive something vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product 2 understand to-infinitive something not said here vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer 3 describe gerund something not said here it vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent it=Theme
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 To give a reason for something: «Can you explain why you were late?».
The tree, 13 words mark advcl det obj case nmod punct punct aux nsubj advmod nsubj cop ccomp punct punct punct root To PART give VERB a DET reason NOUN for ADP something PRON : PUNCT « PUNCT Can AUX you PRON explain VERB why ADV you PRON were AUX late ADJ ? PUNCT » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 give mark 2 give give VERB VerbForm=Inf 11 explain advcl 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 reason det 4 reason reason NOUN Number=Sing 2 give obj 5 for for ADP _ 6 something case 6 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 4 reason nmod 7 : : PUNCT _ 2 give punct 8 « « PUNCT _ 11 explain punct 9 Can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 11 explain aux 10 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 11 explain nsubj 11 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 12 why why ADV PronType=Int 15 late advmod 13 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 15 late nsubj 14 were be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 15 late cop 15 late late ADJ Degree=Pos 11 explain ccomp 16 ? ? PUNCT _ 15 late punct 17 » » PUNCT _ 15 late punct 18 . . PUNCT _ 11 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 give to-infinitive you not said here a reason for something vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent reason=Theme for something=Asset 2 explain speech: assert in a quote can you vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 is in a quote past you late property tree rules
Example 1 Can you explain how you got 24?
aux nsubj advmod nsubj ccomp obj punct root Can AUX you PRON explain VERB how ADV you PRON got VERB 24 NUM ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 explain aux 2 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 3 explain nsubj 3 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 how how ADV PronType=Int 6 got advmod 5 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 6 got nsubj 6 got get VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 explain ccomp 7 24 24 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 6 got obj 8 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert can you vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 get past you 24 vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer 24=Stimulus
Example 2 The teacher explained the rules of the game.
det nsubj det obj case det nmod punct root The DET teacher NOUN explained VERB the DET rules NOUN of ADP the DET game NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 teacher det 2 teacher teacher NOUN Number=Sing 3 explained nsubj 3 explained explain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 rules det 5 rules rule NOUN Number=Plur 3 explained obj 6 of of ADP _ 8 game case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 game det 8 game game NOUN Number=Sing 5 rules nmod 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 explained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert past the teacher the rules of the game vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Topic 2 rule the game nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent
Example 3 Please explain why you were late.
discourse advmod nsubj cop advmod punct root Please INTJ explain VERB why ADV you PRON were AUX late ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Please please INTJ _ 2 explain discourse 2 explain explain VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 why why ADV PronType=Int 6 late advmod 4 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 6 late nsubj 5 were be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 late cop 6 late late ADV Degree=Pos 2 explain advmod 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert imperative you not said here vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 is past you late property tree rules
Example 4 Explain your answer with a picture.
nmod:poss obj case det obl punct root Explain VERB your PRON answer NOUN with ADP a DET picture NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Explain explain VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 3 answer nmod:poss 3 answer answer NOUN Number=Sing 1 Explain obj 4 with with ADP _ 6 picture case 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 picture det 6 picture picture NOUN Number=Sing 1 Explain obl 7 . . PUNCT _ 1 Explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert imperative you not said here your answer with a picture vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic 2 answer your nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent
Example 5 I'll explain it again more slowly.
nsubj aux obj advmod advmod advmod punct root I PRON 'll AUX explain VERB it PRON again ADV more ADV slowly ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 3 explain nsubj 2 'll will AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 explain aux 3 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 explain obj 5 again again ADV _ 3 explain advmod 6 more more ADV Degree=Cmp 7 slowly advmod 7 slowly slowly ADV _ 3 explain advmod 8 . . PUNCT _ 3 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert future I it again slowly property vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic
Example 6 Can you explain how a rainbow forms?
aux nsubj advmod det nsubj ccomp punct root Can AUX you PRON explain VERB how ADV a DET rainbow NOUN forms VERB ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 explain aux 2 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 3 explain nsubj 3 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 how how ADV PronType=Int 7 forms advmod 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 rainbow det 6 rainbow rainbow NOUN Number=Sing 7 forms nsubj 7 forms form VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 explain ccomp 8 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert can you vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 form present a rainbow vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
Example 7 She explained the problem to her mum.
nsubj det obj case nmod:poss obl punct root She PRON explained VERB the DET problem NOUN to ADP her PRON mum NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 She she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 2 explained nsubj 2 explained explain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 problem det 4 problem problem NOUN Number=Sing 2 explained obj 5 to to ADP _ 7 mum case 6 her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 7 mum nmod:poss 7 mum mum NOUN Number=Sing 2 explained obl 8 . . PUNCT _ 2 explained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert past She the problem her mum vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent problem=Topic to mum=Recipient
Example 8 There's no need to explain — I understand.
expl det nsubj mark acl punct nsubj parataxis punct root There PRON 's VERB no DET need NOUN to PART explain VERB — PUNCT I PRON understand VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 There there PRON PronType=Dem 2 's expl 2 's be VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 no no DET PronType=Neg 4 need det 4 need need NOUN Number=Sing 2 's nsubj 5 to to PART _ 6 explain mark 6 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 need acl 7 — - PUNCT _ 9 understand punct 8 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 9 understand nsubj 9 understand understand VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 2 's parataxis 10 . . PUNCT _ 2 's punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 be present no need there vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 2 explain speech: assert to-infinitive no need not said here vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 understand present I vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer
Example 9 I cannot explain more at present.
nsubj aux advmod advmod case obl punct root I PRON can AUX not PART explain VERB more ADV at ADP present NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 4 explain nsubj 2 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 explain aux 3 not not PART Polarity=Neg 4 explain advmod 4 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 more more ADV Degree=Cmp 4 explain advmod 6 at at ADP _ 7 present case 7 present present NOUN Number=Sing 4 explain obl 8 . . PUNCT _ 4 explain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not explain speech: assert can I present vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
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.
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