---
title: boatman — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boatman» in the school dictionary: A man whose job is to row, sail or look after boats, or to carry people across water in a boat. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boatman

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** man, person, boatman, We, old boatman, she · **What happens:** be, sail, look, carry, hire out, row · **To what, where:** people, water, boats, us, lake, boatman

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A man whose job is to row, sail or look after boats, or to carry people across water in a boat.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:m1:1
# text = A man whose job is to row, sail or look after boats, or to carry people across water in a boat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	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	7	nsubj	_	_
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	row	row	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	sail	sail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	after	after	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
18	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	across	across	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a man |  |  |  |  | row *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sail** | infinitive | a man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **look** | infinitive | a man *not said here* |  |  |  | after boats |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **carry** | to-infinitive | a man *not said here* | people |  | water |  | in a boat | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent people=Value in boat=Location |

<!-- .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 person who hires out boats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:m2:1
# text = A person who hires out boats.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hires	hire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire out** | present | a person | boats |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boatman rowed us across the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x1:1
# text = The boatman rowed us across the lake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rowed	row	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lake	lake	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 | **row** | past | the boatman | us |  | the lake |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent we=Theme across lake=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We paid the boatman two coins for the ride.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x2:1
# text = We paid the boatman two coins for the ride.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | We | the boatman |  |  |  | for the ride | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent boatman=Recipient coin=Asset for ride=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Venice, a boatman steers a gondola.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x3:1
# text = In Venice, a boatman steers a gondola.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Venice	Venice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	steers	steer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	gondola	gondola	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | present | a boatman | a gondola |  | Venice |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent gondola=Theme in venice=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old boatman knew every bend in the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x4:1
# text = The old boatman knew every bend in the river.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	bend	bend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | the old boatman | every bend |  | the river |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer bend=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Greek myth, the boatman Charon carried souls across the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x5:1
# text = In the Greek myth, the boatman Charon carried souls across the river.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
9	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	souls	soul	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	across	across	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | the boatman | souls |  | the Greek myth |  | across the river | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent soul=Value in myth=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boatman hired out rowing boats for the afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x6:1
# text = The boatman hired out rowing boats for the afternoon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hired	hire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	rowing	row	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	advcl	_	_
6	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	afternoon	afternoon	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 | **hire out** | past | the boatman |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **row** | gerund | the boatman *not said here* | boats |  |  | afternoon |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent boat=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boatman shouted a warning about the rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x7:1
# text = A boatman shouted a warning about the rocks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | a boatman | a warning |  |  |  | about the rocks | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent warning=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatman:x8:1
# text = So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ordered	order	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	Squirrel	Squirrel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Island	Island	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | she | the old boatman |  |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent boatman=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **steer** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the old boatman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for Squirrel Island | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=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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