---
title: commander — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «commander» in the school dictionary: A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers, a ship, an aircraft, a mission or a police operation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# commander

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, commander, soldiers, Neil Armstrong, President, brother · **What happens:** be, lead, give, tell, wait, stay · **To what, where:** charge, orders, soldiers, commander, deck, Chief · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«commander» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [commander in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/commander.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers, a ship, an aircraft, a mission or a police operation.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:m1:1
# text = A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers, a ship, an aircraft, a mission or a police operation.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	aircraft	aircraft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	mission	mission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	operation	operation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person |  |  | charge and a aircraft and a mission or a police operation |  | of a group of soldiers and a ship | 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: title — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rank in some navies (between lieutenant commander and captain) and in the London police.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:m2:1
# text = A rank in some navies (between lieutenant commander and captain) and in the London police.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	navies	navy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	lieutenant	lieutenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anyone who leads or gives orders, like the commander of a space mission.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:m3:1
# text = Anyone who leads or gives orders, like the commander of a space mission.
1	Anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	space	space	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	mission	mission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **give** | present |  | orders |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The commander told the soldiers to wait for the signal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x1:1
# text = The commander told the soldiers to wait for the signal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	told	tell	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	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the commander | the soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent soldier=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **wait** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the soldiers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the signal | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Neil Armstrong was the commander of Apollo 11.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x2:1
# text = Neil Armstrong was the commander of Apollo 11.
1	Neil	Neil	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Armstrong	Armstrong	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Apollo	Apollo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	11	11	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Neil Armstrong | the commander |  |  |  | of Apollo 11 | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The commander of the ship stayed on deck during the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x3:1
# text = The commander of the ship stayed on deck during the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	commander	commander	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	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	deck	deck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	during	during	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | the commander of the ship |  |  | deck | during the storm |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on deck=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the US, the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x4:1
# text = In the US, the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	President	President	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Commander	Commander	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Chief	Chief	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	armed	armed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	forces	force	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the President | the Commander |  | Chief |  | in the US; of the armed forces | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother wants to be a space station commander one day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x5:1
# text = My brother wants to be a space station commander one day.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	space	space	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	day	day	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 | **want** | present | My brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a station commander |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police commander spoke to the news reporters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x6:1
# text = The police commander spoke to the news reporters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	reporters	reporter	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 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the police commander |  |  |  |  | to the news reporters | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to reporter=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our game, Sam was the commander and gave us all secret missions.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x7:1
# text = In our game, Sam was the commander and gave us all secret missions.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	commander	commander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
13	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	missions	mission	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Sam | the commander |  | our game |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | past | Sam *not said here* | all secret missions | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient mission=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:commander:x8:1
# text = The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	commanders	commander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
7	naval	naval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	expedition	expedition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	propitiating	propitiate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	Neptune	Neptune	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sacrifice	sacrifice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **undertake** | past | the Roman commanders | any naval expedition |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expedition=Eventuality |
| 2 | **propitiate** | gerund | the Roman commanders *not said here* | Neptune |  |  |  | by a sacrifice | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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