---
title: boss — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boss» in the school dictionary: A boss is the person in charge at work who tells others what to do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boss

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** boss, work, you, He, I, sister · **What happens:** be, tell, do, boss around, give off, stop · **To what, where:** person, charge, others, someone, them, unkind way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boss is the person in charge at work who tells others what to do.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:m1:1
# text = A boss is the person in charge at work who tells others what to do.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a boss | the person |  | charge |  | at work | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | work | others |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent other=Recipient |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | work *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
To boss someone around is to keep telling them what to do in an unkind way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:m2:1
# text = To boss someone around is to keep telling them what to do in an unkind way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	boss	boss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	around	around	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
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	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boss around** | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  | around *property* | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a unkind way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In video games a boss is a very strong enemy at the end of a level.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:m3:1
# text = In video games a boss is a very strong enemy at the end of a level.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a boss | a strong enemy |  | video games | at the end of a level |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My mum's boss gave her a day off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x1:1
# text = My mum's boss gave her a day off.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give off** | past | My mum's boss |  | her *= she* |  | day |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Source she=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who's the boss here?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x2:1
# text = Who's the boss here?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | the boss *obl:unmarked*; here *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop bossing me around!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x3:1
# text = Stop bossing me around!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	bossing	boss	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	around	around	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **boss around** | gerund | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  | around *property* | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boss of the shop opened the doors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x4:1
# text = The boss of the shop opened the doors.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	opened	open	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	doors	door	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | the boss of the shop | the doors |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location door=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wants to be his own boss one day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x5:1
# text = He wants to be his own boss one day.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his own boss |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I beat the final boss in the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x6:1
# text = I beat the final boss in the game.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | present | I | the final boss |  |  |  | in the game | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent boss=Patient in game=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister is so bossy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boss:x7:1
# text = My sister is so bossy.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My sister |  |  |  |  | bossy *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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