---
title: bossy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bossy» in the school dictionary: Bossy means always telling other people what to do, in a way that is annoying. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bossy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Bossy, way, Bossy boots, big sister, you, someone · **What happens:** mean, tell, do, be, stop, let · **To what, where:** other people, way, teasing name, someone, group work, bossy boots · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bossy means always telling other people what to do, in a way that is annoying.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:m1:1
# text = Bossy means always telling other people what to do, in a way that is annoying.
1	Bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Bossy |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | Bossy *not said here* |  | other people |  |  | always *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Bossy *not said here* |  |  | a way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is** | present | a way |  |  |  |  | annoying *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: informal, children — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Bossy boots" is a teasing name for a bossy person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:m2:1
# text = "Bossy boots" is a teasing name for a bossy person.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bossy boots | a teasing name |  |  |  | for a bossy person | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x1:1
# text = My big sister is so bossy!
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	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 | My big sister |  |  |  |  | bossy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop being bossy and let someone else choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x2:1
# text = Stop being bossy and let someone else choose.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	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.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | bossy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **let** | infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **choose** | infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In group work, Sam can be a bit bossy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x3:1
# text = In group work, Sam can be a bit bossy.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Sam |  |  | group work |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; bossy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be such a bossy boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x4:1
# text = Don't be such a bossy boots.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	7	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | such bossy boots |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bossy cat chased the dog off the sofa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x5:1
# text = The bossy cat chased the dog off the sofa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	chased	chase	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sofa	sofa	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 | **chase** | past | the bossy cat | the dog |  | the sofa |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent dog=Theme off sofa=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good leader listens; a bossy person just gives orders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bossy:x6:1
# text = A good leader listens; a bossy person just gives orders.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	listens	listen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | present | a good leader |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | present | a bossy person | orders |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |

<!-- 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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