---
title: clerical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clerical» in the school dictionary: To do with office work, such as typing, filing and keeping records (a clerical job, a clerical error). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clerical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ministers, Mum, wrong date, vicar, clerical mistake, school office · **What happens:** do, keep, work, be, wear, send · **To what, where:** records, priests, clerical work, hospital, clerical error, clerical collar

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with office work, such as typing, filing and keeping records (a clerical job, a clerical error).

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:m1:1
# text = To do with office work, such as typing, filing and keeping records (a clerical job, a clerical error).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	typing	typing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	filing	filing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
14	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	error	error	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with office work | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | gerund |  | records |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent record=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: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with the clergy — priests, vicars, ministers — and their work (a clerical collar).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:m2:1
# text = To do with the clergy — priests, vicars, ministers — and their work (a clerical collar).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	clergy	clergy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	vicars	vicar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	ministers	minister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	collar	collar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | priests and vicars and ministers and ministers's work |  |  |  | with the clergy | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work** |  | ministers *= minister* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum does clerical work at the hospital.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x1:1
# text = Mum does clerical work at the hospital.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | Mum | clerical work |  | the hospital |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wrong date was just a clerical error.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x2:1
# text = The wrong date was just a clerical error.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	error	error	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the wrong date | a clerical error |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vicar wore a clerical collar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x3:1
# text = The vicar wore a clerical collar.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vicar	vicar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	collar	collar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | the vicar | a clerical collar |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent collar=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clerical mistake sent the parcel to the wrong house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x4:1
# text = A clerical mistake sent the parcel to the wrong house.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sent	send	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	parcel	parcel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | a clerical mistake | the parcel |  | the wrong house |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent parcel=Theme to house=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school office needs a new clerical assistant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x5:1
# text = The school office needs a new clerical assistant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the school office | a new clerical assistant |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot assistant=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clerical robes are worn by priests during services.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x6:1
# text = Clerical robes are worn by priests during services.
1	Clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	robes	robe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	worn	wear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	services	service	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present · passive | priests | Clerical robes |  |  | during services |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The principal person in the procession was a clerical-looking gentleman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerical:x7:1
# text = The principal person in the procession was a clerical-looking gentleman.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	procession	procession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	clerical	clerical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	amod	_	_
12	gentleman	gentleman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the principal person in the procession | a looking gentleman |  |  |  |  | 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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