---
title: clerk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clerk» in the school dictionary: A clerk is a person whose job is keeping records, filing and writing in an office. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clerk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clerk, job, shop assistant, you, store clerk, my · **What happens:** be, keep, serve, charge, stamp, ask · **To what, where:** person, records, shop assistant, customers, official charge, servant

<!-- .vabout -->
«clerk» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [clerk in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clerk.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clerk is a person whose job is keeping records, filing and writing in an office.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:m1:1
# text = A clerk is a person whose job is keeping records, filing and writing in an office.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	filing	filing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clerk | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present · progressive | job | records and filing and writing in a office |  |  |  |  | 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: US, Canada — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clerk is a shop assistant who serves customers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:m2:1
# text = A clerk is a shop assistant who serves customers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	assistant	assistant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	serves	serve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clerk | a shop assistant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **serve** | present | a shop assistant | customers |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent customer=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clerk is an official in charge of records for a court, council or school (school clerk).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:m3:1
# text = A clerk is an official in charge of records for a court, council or school (school clerk).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a clerk |  |  | a official charge |  | of records for a court and council or school | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old times, a clerk could also be a servant in charge of a part of a great house, such as the kitchen.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:m4:1
# text = In old times, a clerk could also be a servant in charge of a part of a great house, such as the kitchen.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	25	case	_	_
23	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | could | a clerk | a servant |  | charge of a part of a great house and the kitchen | time |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **charge** |  |  | a part of a great house and the kitchen |  |  |  |  | nom charge «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clerk stamped the letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x1:1
# text = The clerk stamped the letter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stamped	stamp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stamp** | past | the clerk | the letter |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent letter=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the clerk at the desk for a key.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x2:1
# text = Ask the clerk at the desk for a key.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	desk	desk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | the clerk |  | the desk |  | for a key | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent clerk=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The store clerk gave me my change.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x3:1
# text = The store clerk gave me my change.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	store	store	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the store clerk | my change | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient change=Theme |
| 2 | **change** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom change «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bank clerk counted the money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x4:1
# text = A bank clerk counted the money.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	counted	count	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	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | a bank clerk | the money |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school clerk keeps the records.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x5:1
# text = The school clerk keeps the records.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the school clerk | the records |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent record=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clerk sorted 120 letters into 4 piles of 30.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x6:1
# text = The clerk sorted 120 letters into 4 piles of 30.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sorted	sort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	120	120	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	piles	pile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort** | past | the clerk | 120 letters |  |  |  | into 4 piles of 30 *goal* | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent letter=Theme into pile=Goal |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town clerk wrote down the votes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x7:1
# text = The town clerk wrote down the votes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	votes	vote	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | past | the town clerk | the votes |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vote=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She works as a clerk in an office.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x8:1
# text = She works as a clerk in an office.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | She |  |  |  |  | as a clerk; in a office | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in office=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Ah! madam,” cried the clerk of the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clerk:x9:1
# text = “Ah! madam,” cried the clerk of the kitchen.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ah	ah	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
4	madam	madam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	clerk	clerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | madam | the clerk of the kitchen |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clerk=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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