---
title: culprit — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «culprit» in the school dictionary: A culprit is the person who has done something wrong or committed a crime. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# culprit

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** culprit, person, teacher, detective, dog, much sugar · **What happens:** be, do, find, draw, name, block · **To what, where:** person, something, cause, culprit, wall, main culprit

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A culprit is the person who has done something wrong or committed a crime.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:m1:1
# text = A culprit is the person who has done something wrong or committed a crime.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	committed	committed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a culprit | the person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present · perfect | the person | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 culprit is the cause of a problem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:m2:1
# text = A culprit is the cause of a problem.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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** | present | a culprit | the cause |  |  |  | of a problem | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher found the culprit who drew on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x1:1
# text = The teacher found the culprit who drew on the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	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	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wall	wall	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 | **find** | past | the teacher | the culprit |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent culprit=Topic |
| 2 | **draw** | past | the culprit |  |  | the wall |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on wall=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective finally named the culprit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x2:1
# text = The detective finally named the culprit.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** | participle | the detective *not said here* | the culprit |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent culprit=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog was the culprit — there were crumbs on its nose!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x3:1
# text = The dog was the culprit — there were crumbs on its nose!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	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	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	8	expl	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much sugar is the main culprit in tooth decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x4:1
# text = Too much sugar is the main culprit in tooth decay.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | much sugar | the main culprit |  | tooth decay |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The culprit for the flood was a blocked drain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x5:1
# text = The culprit for the flood was a blocked drain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	blocked	block	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	drain	drain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the culprit for the flood | a blocked drain |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police are still looking for the culprits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x6:1
# text = The police are still looking for the culprits.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	culprits	culprit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present · progressive | the police |  |  |  | still | for the culprits | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for culprit=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Here was the culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culprit:x7:1
# text = Here was the culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them!
1	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	culprit	culprit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	misfortune	misfortune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the culprit |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | past · perfect · passive |  | the culprit |  | all |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP NP»: subject=Destination misfortune=Theme |

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**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.

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