---
title: chief — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chief» in the school dictionary: The leader or head of a group, such as a tribe, organisation or police force (the fire chief). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chief

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chief, fire chief, everyone, chief worry, Our, She · **What happens:** welcome, tell, leave, be, worry, stay · **To what, where:** us, everyone, building, weather, chief executive, chief reason · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«chief» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [chief in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chief.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The leader or head of a group, such as a tribe, organisation or police force (the fire chief).

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:m1:1
# text = The leader or head of a group, such as a tribe, organisation or police force (the fire chief).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tribe	tribe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	organisation	organisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most important; main (the chief reason).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:m2:1
# text = Most important; main (the chief reason).
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Highest in rank (chief executive, chief inspector).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:m3:1
# text = Highest in rank (chief executive, chief inspector).
1	Highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	executive	executive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	inspector	inspector	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A friendly word for a man, like «mate» or «boss» (Alright, chief?).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:m4:1
# text = A friendly word for a man, like «mate» or «boss» (Alright, chief?).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Alright	alright	INTJ	UH	_	19	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief of the village welcomed us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x1:1
# text = The chief of the village welcomed us.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	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	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	welcomed	welcome	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **welcome** | past | the chief of the village | us |  |  |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fire chief told everyone to leave the building.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x2:1
# text = The fire chief told everyone to leave the building.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the fire chief | everyone |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent everyone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | everyone *not said here* | the building |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent building=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our chief worry is the weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x3:1
# text = Our chief worry is the weather.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our chief worry | the weather |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **worry** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom worry «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is the chief executive of a big company.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x4:1
# text = She is the chief executive of a big company.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	executive	executive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | the chief executive |  |  |  | of a big company | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rain was the chief reason we stayed inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x5:1
# text = Rain was the chief reason we stayed inside.
1	Rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Rain | the chief reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | past | we | the chief reason *not said here* |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme reason=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cheers, chief! (informal)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Cheers, chief!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x6:1
# text = Cheers, chief!
1	Cheers	cheer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (informal)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x6:2
# text = (informal)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Stay with us, Chief,” Caelte begged.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chief:x7:1
# text = “Stay with us, Chief,” Caelte begged.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Chief	Chief	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
9	Caelte	Caelte	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	begged	beg	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with us; Chief *vocative* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with we=Location |
| 2 | **beg** *speech: request* | past | Caelte |  |  |  |  |  | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

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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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