---
title: constable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constable» in the school dictionary: A police officer of the lowest rank; often written PC (police constable), as in «PC Smith». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** John, PC, constable, We, Police constables, chief constable · **What happens:** write, be, come, talk, direct, guard · **To what, where:** police officer, English painter, us, traffic, castle, painting

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Canada — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A police officer of the lowest rank; often written PC (police constable), as in «PC Smith».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:m1:1
# text = A police officer of the lowest rank; often written PC (police constable), as in «PC Smith».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	lowest	low	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	PC	PC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	compound	_	_
14	constable	constable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	PC	PC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle · passive |  | a police officer of the lowest rank |  |  |  | often *property* | 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: history — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An important officer in a medieval castle or a royal court (the Constable of the Tower of London).

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:m2:1
# text = An important officer in a medieval castle or a royal court (the Constable of the Tower of London).
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	royal	royal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Constable	Constable	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Tower	Tower	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A local law officer in some small towns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:m3:1
# text = A local law officer in some small towns.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
John Constable was an English painter famous for landscapes like «The Hay Wain» (1821).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:m4:1
# text = John Constable was an English painter famous for landscapes like «The Hay Wain» (1821).
1	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	Constable	Constable	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	painter	painter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	landscapes	landscape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	Hay	Hay	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Wain	Wain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	1821	1821	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | John | a English painter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
PC Jones came to talk to us about bike safety.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x1:1
# text = PC Jones came to talk to us about bike safety.
1	PC	PC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | PC |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive | PC *not said here* |  | us |  |  | about bike safety | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.topic»: agent=Agent to we=Co-Agent about safety=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The constable directed the traffic after the crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x2:1
# text = The constable directed the traffic after the crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constable	constable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	directed	direct	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	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **direct** | past | the constable | the traffic |  |  | after the crash |  | vn supervision-95.2.2-1 «NP V NP.predicate»: agent=Agent traffic=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Constable of the castle guarded it for the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x3:1
# text = The Constable of the castle guarded it for the king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Constable	Constable	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	guarded	guard	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guard** | past | the Constable of the castle | castle |  |  |  | for the king | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We copied John Constable's painting of a hay cart in a river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x4:1
# text = We copied John Constable's painting of a hay cart in a river.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	copied	copy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	_
4	Constable	Constable	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
6	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	hay	hay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cart	cart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | past | We | John's painting of a hay cart |  | a river |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent painting=Theme in river=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police constables patrol the town centre.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x5:1
# text = Police constables patrol the town centre.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	constables	constable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	patrol	patrol	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	centre	centre	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 | **patrol** | present | Police constables | the town centre |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent centre=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief constable leads a whole police force in Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constable:x6:1
# text = The chief constable leads a whole police force in Britain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	constable	constable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
4	leads	lead	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	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | present | the chief constable | a whole police force |  | Britain |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent force=Theme in britain=Destination |

<!-- 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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