---
title: assistant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «assistant» in the school dictionary: A person whose job is to help someone else do their work. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# assistant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, their, shop assistant, computer program, teaching assistant, you · **What happens:** be, do, job, work, serve, help · **To what, where:** work, person, customers, shop, you, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«assistant» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [assistant in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/assistant.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person whose job is to help someone else do their work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:m1:1
# text = A person whose job is to help someone else do their work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | help *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | a person *not said here* | their work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |
| 3 | **job** |  | a person |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 4 | **work** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=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 shop assistant is a person who serves customers in a shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:m2:1
# text = A shop assistant is a person who serves customers in a shop.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	serves	serve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shop assistant | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **serve** | present | a person | customers |  | a shop |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent customer=Value in shop=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A computer program that helps you, such as a voice assistant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:m3:1
# text = A computer program that helps you, such as a voice assistant.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | a computer program and a voice assistant |  | you |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teaching assistant helps me with reading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x1:1
# text = Our teaching assistant helps me with reading.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Our teaching assistant |  | me |  |  | with reading | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary with reading=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the shop assistant where the shoes are.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x2:1
# text = Ask the shop assistant where the shoes are.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	1	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | the shop assistant |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent assistant=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the shoes |  |  |  |  | where *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor's assistant called my name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x3:1
# text = The doctor's assistant called my name.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the doctor's assistant *not said here* | my name |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 2 | **name** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The assistant coach set up the cones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x4:1
# text = The assistant coach set up the cones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cones	cone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set up** | participle | the assistant coach *not said here* | the cones |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient cone=Result |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A voice assistant can tell you the weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x5:1
# text = A voice assistant can tell you the weather.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | can | a voice assistant | the weather | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient weather=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magician's assistant held the hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x6:1
# text = The magician's assistant held the hat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the magician's assistant | the hat |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hat=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As they sailed on, they came by chance to the place where the boatman's assistant lived, at a little distance from the bank of the river.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assistant:x7:1
# text = As they sailed on, they came by chance to the place where the boatman's assistant lived, at a little distance from the bank of the river.
1	As	as	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sailed	sail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
4	on	on	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	18	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	_
17	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	distance	distance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
24	from	from	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sail** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come** | past | they |  |  |  |  | by chance to the place | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by chance=Location |
| 3 | **live** | past | the boatman's assistant |  |  |  |  | at a little distance from the bank of the river | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at distance=Location |

<!-- div src -->

**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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