---
title: appoint — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «appoint» in the school dictionary: To appoint someone is to choose them officially for a job or role. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# appoint

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** school, Mrs, We, council, They, his · **What happens:** appoint, be, meet, look, agree, abide · **To what, where:** someone, new head teacher, Zoe, new mayor, She, judges

<!-- .vabout -->
«appoint» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [appoint in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/appoint.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To appoint someone is to choose them officially for a job or role.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:m1:1
# text = To appoint someone is to choose them officially for a job or role.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	appoint	appoint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	choose	choose	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	role	role	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for a job or role; choose, officially *property* | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To appoint a time or place is to decide it: at the appointed time.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:m2:1
# text = To appoint a time or place is to decide it: at the appointed time.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	appoint	appoint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	decide	decide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  | time | decide *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **appoint** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school appointed a new head teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x1:1
# text = The school appointed a new head teacher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | past | the school | a new head teacher |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mrs Lee appointed Zoe as team captain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x2:1
# text = Mrs Lee appointed Zoe as team captain.
1	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Lee	Lee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Zoe	Zoe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | past | Mrs | Zoe |  |  |  | as team captain | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent zoe=Theme as captain=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We met at the appointed time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x3:1
# text = We met at the appointed time.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | We |  |  |  | time |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **appoint** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council appointed a new mayor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x4:1
# text = The council appointed a new mayor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | past | the council | a new mayor |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mayor=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was appointed to look after the class pet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x5:1
# text = She was appointed to look after the class pet.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	appointed	appoint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | after the class pet |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who appoints the judges?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x6:1
# text = Who appoints the judges?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	appoints	appoint	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	judges	judge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appoint** | present |  | the judges |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent judge=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:appoint:x7:1
# text = They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	agreed	agree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	appoint	appoint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	Momus	momus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	abide	abide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **appoint** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | Momus |  |  |  | as judge | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent momus=Theme as judge=Attribute |
| 3 | **abide** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by his decision | tree rules |
| 4 | **decide** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=agent |

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**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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