---
title: choirboy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «choirboy» in the school dictionary: A boy who sings in a church or cathedral choir, usually wearing robes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# choirboy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** boy, person, choirboys, cousin, voice, He · **What happens:** sing, wear, look, behave, say, be · **To what, where:** church, robes, choirboy, carols, cathedral, eight · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boy who sings in a church or cathedral choir, usually wearing robes.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:m1:1
# text = A boy who sings in a church or cathedral choir, usually wearing robes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sings	sing	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	cathedral	cathedral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
14	robes	robe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | a boy |  |  | a church or cathedral choir |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in church=Location |
| 2 | **wear** | gerund | a boy *not said here* | robes |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent robe=Theme |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who looks very innocent and well-behaved, often said jokingly («he's no choirboy»).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:m2:1
# text = A person who looks very innocent and well-behaved, often said jokingly («he's no choirboy»).
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	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
14	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	20	det	_	_
20	choirboy	choirboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | innocent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **behave** | participle | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | jokingly, often *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | person | no choirboy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The choirboys sang carols at the cathedral on Christmas Eve.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x1:1
# text = The choirboys sang carols at the cathedral on Christmas Eve.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choirboys	choirboy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	carols	carol	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cathedral	cathedral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Eve.	Eve.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the choirboys | carols |  | the cathedral |  | on Christmas Eve. | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location carol=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin became a choirboy at eight and practises every week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x2:1
# text = My cousin became a choirboy at eight and practises every week.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	choirboy	choirboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	practises	practise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | My cousin | a choirboy |  | eight |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **practise** | present | My cousin *not said here* |  |  |  | week |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The choirboy's voice rose high above the organ.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x3:1
# text = The choirboy's voice rose high above the organ.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choirboy	choirboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	organ	organ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | the choirboy's voice |  |  | the organ |  | high *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent above organ=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Choirboys often wear white robes over red cassocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x4:1
# text = Choirboys often wear white robes over red cassocks.
1	Choirboys	choirboy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	robes	robe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cassocks	cassock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | Choirboys | white robes |  | red cassocks |  | often *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent robe=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He may look like a choirboy, but he's the cheekiest kid in class.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x5:1
# text = He may look like a choirboy, but he's the cheekiest kid in class.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	choirboy	choirboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	cheekiest	cheeky	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	kid	kid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | may | He |  |  |  |  | like a choirboy | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | he | the cheekiest kid |  | class |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When his voice broke, he stopped being a choirboy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:choirboy:x6:1
# text = When his voice broke, he stopped being a choirboy.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	choirboy	choirboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | his voice |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | past | voice |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is a** | gerund | voice *not said here* | a choirboy |  |  |  |  | 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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