---
title: assignment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «assignment» in the school dictionary: An assignment is a piece of work a teacher gives you to do, often at home or over several days. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# assignment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** assignment, teacher, science assignment, Our, your, reporter · **What happens:** be, give, do, put, assign, accept · **To what, where:** piece, you, home, job, work, something

<!-- .vabout -->
«assignment» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [assignment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/assignment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An assignment is a piece of work a teacher gives you to do, often at home or over several days.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:m1:1
# text = An assignment is a piece of work a teacher gives you to do, often at home or over several days.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
19	over	over	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a assignment | a piece |  |  |  | of work | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | a teacher | a piece *not said here* | you |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | a teacher *not said here* |  |  | home or several days |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A job or task someone is given at work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:m2:1
# text = A job or task someone is given at work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	task	task	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | a job or task |  | work |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: subject=Theme at work=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving something to someone or putting it in a place: the assignment of seats.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:m3:1
# text = Giving something to someone or putting it in a place: the assignment of seats.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | something | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent something=Theme to someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **put** | gerund |  | it |  | a place |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme in place=Destination |
| 3 | **assign** |  |  | seats |  |  |  |  | nom assignment «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our science assignment is about volcanoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x1:1
# text = Our science assignment is about volcanoes.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our science assignment |  |  |  |  | about volcanoes | tree rules |
| 2 | **assign** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom assignment «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hand in your assignments on Friday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x2:1
# text = Hand in your assignments on Friday.
1	Hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	assignments	assignment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **assign** |  | your |  |  |  |  | on Friday | nom assignment «act transitive»: poss=agent on=obl |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The reporter was on assignment in Kenya.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x3:1
# text = The reporter was on assignment in Kenya.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reporter	reporter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the reporter |  |  | assignment |  | in Kenya | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spy accepted a dangerous assignment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x4:1
# text = The spy accepted a dangerous assignment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	accepted	accept	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	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	assignment	assignment	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 | **accept** | past | the spy | a dangerous assignment |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent assignment=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I finished the maths assignment early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x5:1
# text = I finished the maths assignment early.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	finished	finish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | past | I | the maths assignment |  |  |  | early *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector assignment=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The assignment of tables was done by drawing names.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assignment:x6:1
# text = The assignment of tables was done by drawing names.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	assignment	assignment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
9	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past · passive |  | the assignment of tables |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **draw** | gerund |  | names |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Theme |
| 3 | **assign** |  |  | tables |  |  |  |  | nom assignment «act transitive»: of=patient |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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