---
title: controller — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «controller» in the school dictionary: A hand-held device with buttons and sticks used to play video games or work a machine such as a toy car or drone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# controller

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** held device, person, machine, you, we, batteries · **What happens:** hold, use, play, work, be, manage · **To what, where:** video games, machine, something, second controller, me, small controller · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«controller» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [controller in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/controller.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hand-held device with buttons and sticks used to play video games or work a machine such as a toy car or drone.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:m1:1
# text = A hand-held device with buttons and sticks used to play video games or work a machine such as a toy car or drone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	buttons	button	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	drone	drone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | past | a held device with buttons and sticks |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **play** | to-infinitive | a held device with buttons and sticks *not said here* | video games |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |
| 4 | **work** | infinitive | a held device with buttons and sticks *not said here* | a machine |  |  |  | such a toy car or drone | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent machine=Material |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person whose job is to control or manage something, such as an air traffic controller.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:m2:1
# text = A person whose job is to control or manage something, such as an air traffic controller.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	manage	manage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | control *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **manage** | infinitive | a person *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn caring-75.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A part of a machine that controls how it works.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:m3:1
# text = A part of a machine that controls how it works.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | a machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | present | machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the second controller so we can play together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x1:1
# text = Pass me the second controller so we can play together.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	amod	_	_
5	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the second controller | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient controller=Theme |
| 2 | **play** | can | we |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The controller's batteries are flat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x2:1
# text = The controller's batteries are flat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the controller's batteries |  |  |  |  | flat *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My drone has a small controller.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x3:1
# text = My drone has a small controller.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	drone	drone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	controller	controller	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 | **have** | present | My drone | a small controller |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent controller=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Air traffic controllers tell pilots when to land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x4:1
# text = Air traffic controllers tell pilots when to land.
1	Air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	controllers	controller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	pilots	pilot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	iobj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	land	land	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | traffic controllers |  | pilots |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent pilot=Recipient |
| 2 | **land** | to-infinitive | traffic controllers *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press the A button on the controller to jump.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x5:1
# text = Press the A button on the controller to jump.
1	Press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | imperative | you *not said here* | the button |  | the controller |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent button=Theme |
| 2 | **jump** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the controller away when screen time is over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:controller:x6:1
# text = Put the controller away when screen time is over.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	controller	controller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
6	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | the controller |  |  |  | away *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent controller=Goal |
| 2 | **is** | present | screen time |  |  |  |  | over *property* | 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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