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Glite Dictionary
👑 To rule 📏 To control by rules 🧭 To influence actions 🔤 To require a form
to govern

to govern

3 8.1
To require another word to be in a certain form for example case or mood
  • verb
  • /ˈɡʌvərn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : regir
  • The cost of fuel cell stacks is primarily governed by the catalyst, membrane, and bipolar plates.
  • rules govern

Examples

  • In English grammar, the rules that govern the usage of verbs can be quite complex.

  • The rules that govern the formation of plurals help learners understand how to create the correct forms.

  • " If she dies, then any distribution of personal property would have to be governed by the terms of her will.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The effect of an English law governing clause has been decided several times by the Korean Supreme Court.

    Academic text (2017)

  • SIDs are currently governed by both federal and state law.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The other crucial question for the new state was how the vast, diverse country should be structured and governed.

    Academic text (2004)

  • I've been having some trouble with the laws governing chemical bonds.

    Honor Society (2022)

  • So under the common law and the mirror image rule, the sellers form restricting warranties would normally govern the terms of the contract.

  • A clause that merely states "this agreement shall be governed by the law of New York" is not sufficiently explicit to opt out of the federal regime.

    Academic text (2017)

  • The choice-of-law clause states: "This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Hong Kong law..."

    Academic text (2017)

Surface Forms

govern infinitive
governed past
governed past participle
governing present participle
governs third person singular

Etymology

The word govern comes from the Latin gubernare, 'to steer'. So in grammar, when one word governs another, it 'steers' that word into a particular form or 'case'.