theory Who acts: theory, someone, idea, subject, things, living things · What happens: test, be, support, have, explain, not be · To what, where: tested explanation, idea, something, theory, cake, ideas · Speech: someone speaks here
«theory» 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: theory in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.
A theory is a well-tested explanation of how something in nature works, supported by a lot of evidence, like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity.
The tree, 29 words det nsubj cop det advmod punct amod case advmod nmod case compound nmod punct acl case det obl case nmod punct case det nmod case nmod cc det conj case nmod punct root A DET theory NOUN is AUX a DET well ADV - PUNCT tested VERB explanation NOUN of ADP how ADV something PRON in ADP nature NOUN works NOUN , PUNCT supported VERB by ADP a DET lot NOUN of ADP evidence NOUN , PUNCT like ADP the DET theory NOUN of ADP evolution NOUN or CCONJ the DET theory NOUN of ADP gravity NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 theory det 2 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 8 explanation nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 explanation cop 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 explanation det 5 well well ADV Degree=Pos 7 tested advmod 6 - - PUNCT _ 5 well punct 7 tested test VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 8 explanation amod 8 explanation explanation NOUN Number=Sing root root 9 of of ADP _ 11 something case 10 how how ADV PronType=Int 11 something advmod 11 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 8 explanation nmod 12 in in ADP _ 14 works case 13 nature nature NOUN Number=Sing 14 works compound 14 works work NOUN Number=Plur 11 something nmod 15 , , PUNCT _ 16 supported punct 16 supported support VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 8 explanation acl 17 by by ADP _ 19 lot case 18 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 19 lot det 19 lot lot NOUN Number=Sing 16 supported obl 20 of of ADP _ 21 evidence case 21 evidence evidence NOUN Number=Sing 19 lot nmod 22 , , PUNCT _ 25 theory punct 23 like like ADP _ 25 theory case 24 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 25 theory det 25 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 8 explanation nmod 26 of of ADP _ 27 evolution case 27 evolution evolution NOUN Number=Sing 25 theory nmod 28 or or CCONJ _ 30 theory cc 29 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 30 theory det 30 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 25 theory conj 31 of of ADP _ 32 gravity case 32 gravity gravity NOUN Number=Sing 30 theory nmod 33 . . PUNCT _ 8 explanation punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 test participle well property vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 2 is a present a theory a tested explanation of something; like the theory of evolution or the theory of gravity tree rules 3 support participle a tested explanation not said here by a lot of evidence vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer
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 A theory is an idea someone has to explain something, which may or may not be true, as in "I have a theory about who ate the cake".
The tree, 28 words det nsubj cop det nsubj acl:relcl mark xcomp obj punct nsubj aux cc aux advmod cop acl:relcl punct mark fixed punct nsubj advcl det obj mark nsubj acl:relcl det obj punct punct root A DET theory NOUN is AUX an DET idea NOUN someone PRON has VERB to PART explain VERB something PRON , PUNCT which PRON may AUX or CCONJ may AUX not PART be AUX true ADJ , PUNCT as SCONJ in ADP " PUNCT I PRON have VERB a DET theory NOUN about SCONJ who PRON ate VERB the DET cake NOUN " PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 theory det 2 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 5 idea nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 idea cop 4 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 idea det 5 idea idea NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 has nsubj 7 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 idea acl:relcl 8 to to PART _ 9 explain mark 9 explain explain VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 has xcomp 10 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 9 explain obj 11 , , PUNCT _ 18 true punct 12 which which PRON PronType=Rel 18 true nsubj 13 may may AUX VerbForm=Fin 18 true aux 14 or or CCONJ _ 18 true cc 15 may may AUX VerbForm=Fin 18 true aux 16 not not PART Polarity=Neg 18 true advmod 17 be be AUX VerbForm=Inf 18 true cop 18 true true ADJ Degree=Pos 10 something acl:relcl 19 , , PUNCT _ 24 have punct 20 as as SCONJ _ 24 have mark 21 in in ADP _ 20 as fixed 22 " " PUNCT _ 24 have punct 23 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 24 have nsubj 24 have have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 explain advcl 25 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 26 theory det 26 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 24 have obj 27 about about SCONJ _ 29 ate mark 28 who who PRON PronType=Rel 29 ate nsubj 29 ate eat VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 26 theory acl:relcl 30 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 31 cake det 31 cake cake NOUN Number=Sing 29 ate obj 32 " " PUNCT _ 29 ate punct 33 . . PUNCT _ 5 idea punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a theory a idea tree rules 2 have present someone a idea not said here tree rules 3 explain speech: assert to-infinitive a idea not said here something vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic 4 not is may true property tree rules 5 have in a quote present a idea = idea a theory vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Patient 6 eat in a quote past a theory the cake vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient
Meaning 3 Theory is the ideas and rules of a subject, as opposed to practice, like music theory.
The tree, 16 words nsubj cop det cc conj case det nmod punct mark acl case obl punct case compound parataxis punct root Theory PROPN is AUX the DET ideas NOUN and CCONJ rules NOUN of ADP a DET subject NOUN , PUNCT as SCONJ opposed VERB to ADP practice NOUN , PUNCT like ADP music NOUN theory NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Theory Theory PROPN Number=Sing 4 ideas nsubj 2 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 ideas cop 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 ideas det 4 ideas idea NOUN Number=Plur root root 5 and and CCONJ _ 6 rules cc 6 rules rule NOUN Number=Plur 4 ideas conj 7 of of ADP _ 9 subject case 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 subject det 9 subject subject NOUN Number=Sing 6 rules nmod 10 , , PUNCT _ 12 opposed punct 11 as as SCONJ _ 12 opposed mark 12 opposed oppose VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 4 ideas acl 13 to to ADP _ 14 practice case 14 practice practice NOUN Number=Sing 12 opposed obl 15 , , PUNCT _ 18 theory punct 16 like like ADP _ 18 theory case 17 music music NOUN Number=Sing 18 theory compound 18 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 12 opposed parataxis 19 . . PUNCT _ 4 ideas punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present Theory the ideas and rules of a subject tree rules 2 oppose participle the ideas and rules of a subject not said here to practice vn amalgamate-22.2-3 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient 3 rule a subject nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent
Meaning 4 "In theory" means what should happen if things go as planned, though they might not.
The tree, 15 words punct case nsubj punct nsubj aux ccomp mark nsubj advcl mark advcl punct mark nsubj conj advmod punct root " PUNCT In ADP theory NOUN " PUNCT means VERB what PRON should AUX happen VERB if SCONJ things NOUN go VERB as SCONJ planned VERB , PUNCT though SCONJ they PRON might AUX not PART . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 3 theory punct 2 In in ADP _ 3 theory case 3 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 5 means nsubj 4 " " PUNCT _ 3 theory punct 5 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 6 what what PRON PronType=Int 8 happen nsubj 7 should should AUX VerbForm=Fin 8 happen aux 8 happen happen VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 means ccomp 9 if if SCONJ _ 11 go mark 10 things thing NOUN Number=Plur 11 go nsubj 11 go go VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 happen advcl 12 as as SCONJ _ 13 planned mark 13 planned plan VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 11 go advcl 14 , , PUNCT _ 17 might punct 15 though though SCONJ _ 17 might mark 16 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 17 might nsubj 17 might might AUX VerbForm=Fin 8 happen conj 18 not not PART Polarity=Neg 17 might advmod 19 . . PUNCT _ 5 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present theory vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 happen should vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 3 go a condition, not said to happen present things vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 4 plan participle things not said here vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Agent
Example 1 Darwin's theory of evolution explains how living things change over time.
nmod:poss case nsubj case nmod advmod amod nsubj ccomp case obl punct root Darwin PROPN 's PART theory NOUN of ADP evolution NOUN explains VERB how ADV living ADJ things NOUN change VERB over ADP time NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Darwin Darwin PROPN Number=Sing 3 theory nmod:poss 2 's 's PART _ 1 Darwin case 3 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 6 explains nsubj 4 of of ADP _ 5 evolution case 5 evolution evolution NOUN Number=Sing 3 theory nmod 6 explains explain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 7 how how ADV PronType=Int 10 change advmod 8 living living ADJ Degree=Pos 9 things amod 9 things thing NOUN Number=Plur 10 change nsubj 10 change change VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 6 explains ccomp 11 over over ADP _ 12 time case 12 time time NOUN Number=Sing 10 change obl 13 . . PUNCT _ 6 explains punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 explain speech: assert present Darwin's theory of evolution vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 change present living things time vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 2 I have a theory that the cat ate the fish fingers.
nsubj det obj mark det nsubj acl det compound obj punct root I PRON have VERB a DET theory NOUN that SCONJ the DET cat NOUN ate VERB the DET fish NOUN fingers 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 2 have nsubj 2 have have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 theory det 4 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 2 have obj 5 that that SCONJ _ 8 ate mark 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 cat det 7 cat cat NOUN Number=Sing 8 ate nsubj 8 ate eat VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 4 theory acl 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 fingers det 10 fish fish NOUN Number=Sing 11 fingers compound 11 fingers finger NOUN Number=Plur 8 ate obj 12 . . PUNCT _ 2 have punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present I a theory vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Patient 2 eat past the cat the fish fingers vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Patient
Example 3 In theory, the bus comes every ten minutes, but it never does.
The tree, 12 words case obl punct det nsubj det nummod obl:unmarked punct cc nsubj advmod conj punct root In ADP theory NOUN , PUNCT the DET bus NOUN comes VERB every DET ten NUM minutes NOUN , PUNCT but CCONJ it PRON never ADV does VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 In in ADP _ 2 theory case 2 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 6 comes obl 3 , , PUNCT _ 2 theory punct 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 bus det 5 bus bus NOUN Number=Sing 6 comes nsubj 6 comes come VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 7 every every DET PronType=Tot 9 minutes det 8 ten ten NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 9 minutes nummod 9 minutes minute NOUN Number=Plur 6 comes obl:unmarked 10 , , PUNCT _ 14 does punct 11 but but CCONJ _ 14 does cc 12 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 14 does nsubj 13 never never ADV PronType=Neg 14 does advmod 14 does do VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 6 comes conj 15 . . PUNCT _ 6 comes punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 come present the bus theory minute vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in theory=Location 2 not do present bus vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 4 The detective tested her theory by checking the footprints.
det nsubj nmod:poss obj mark advcl det obj punct root The DET detective NOUN tested VERB her PRON theory NOUN by SCONJ checking VERB the DET footprints NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 detective det 2 detective detective NOUN Number=Sing 3 tested nsubj 3 tested test VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 5 theory nmod:poss 5 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 3 tested obj 6 by by SCONJ _ 7 checking mark 7 checking check VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 3 tested advcl 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 footprints det 9 footprints footprint NOUN Number=Plur 7 checking obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 tested punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 test past the detective detective's theory vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Theme 2 check gerund the detective not said here the footprints vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footprint=Theme
Example 5 I passed my music theory exam.
nsubj nmod:poss compound compound obj punct root I PRON passed VERB my PRON music NOUN theory NOUN exam 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 2 passed nsubj 2 passed pass VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 6 exam nmod:poss 4 music music NOUN Number=Sing 5 theory compound 5 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 6 exam compound 6 exam exam NOUN Number=Sing 2 passed obj 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 passed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 pass past I my theory exam vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme exam=Trajectory
Example 6 Scientists test a theory by doing experiments.
nsubj det obj mark advcl obj punct root Scientists NOUN test VERB a DET theory NOUN by SCONJ doing VERB experiments NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Scientists scientist NOUN Number=Plur 2 test nsubj 2 test test VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 theory det 4 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 2 test obj 5 by by SCONJ _ 6 doing mark 6 doing do VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 2 test advcl 7 experiments experiment NOUN Number=Plur 6 doing obj 8 . . PUNCT _ 2 test punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 test present Scientists a theory vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theory=Theme 2 do gerund Scientists not said here experiments vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Eventuality
Example 7 (informal) Some people believe in silly conspiracy theories.
punct discourse punct det nsubj case amod compound obl punct root ( PUNCT informal NUM ) PUNCT Some DET people NOUN believe VERB in ADP silly ADJ conspiracy NOUN theories NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 ( ( PUNCT _ 2 informal punct 2 informal informal NUM _ 6 believe discourse 3 ) ) PUNCT _ 2 informal punct 4 Some some DET PronType=Ind 5 people det 5 people people NOUN Number=Plur 6 believe nsubj 6 believe believe VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 7 in in ADP _ 10 theories case 8 silly silly ADJ Degree=Pos 10 theories amod 9 conspiracy conspiracy NOUN Number=Sing 10 theories compound 10 theories theory NOUN Number=Plur 6 believe obl 11 . . PUNCT _ 6 believe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 believe present some people silly conspiracy theories vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer
Example 8 "I am not prepared to form a theory about these stories.
punct nsubj aux:pass advmod mark xcomp det obj case det nmod punct root " PUNCT I PRON am AUX not PART prepared VERB to PART form VERB a DET theory NOUN about ADP these DET stories NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 5 prepared punct 2 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 5 prepared nsubj 3 am be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 prepared aux:pass 4 not not PART Polarity=Neg 5 prepared advmod 5 prepared prepare VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 6 to to PART _ 7 form mark 7 form form VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 prepared xcomp 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 theory det 9 theory theory NOUN Number=Sing 7 form obj 10 about about ADP _ 12 stories case 11 these this DET Number=Plur PronType=Dem 12 stories det 12 stories story NOUN Number=Plur 9 theory nmod 13 . . PUNCT _ 5 prepared punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not prepare in a quote present · passive I vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Theme clause=Attribute 2 form not said to happen, in a quote to-infinitive a theory about this stories vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location theory=Theme
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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