---
title: customer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «customer» in the school dictionary: A customer is a person who buys things in a shop or uses a service, like a café or a hairdresser. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# customer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** customer, person, ugly customer, waiter, many customers, shop · **What happens:** be, buy, use, deal, have, leave · **To what, where:** person, things, shop, service, 12 customers, 8 customers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«customer» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [customer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/customer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A customer is a person who buys things in a shop or uses a service, like a café or a hairdresser.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:m1:1
# text = A customer is a person who buys things in a shop or uses a service, like a café or a hairdresser.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	customer	customer	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	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	parataxis	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	hairdresser	hairdresser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a customer | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | present | a person | things |  | a shop |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | present | a person *not said here* | a service |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent service=Patient |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ugly customer is a person who is dangerous or difficult to deal with.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:m2:1
# text = An ugly customer is a person who is dangerous or difficult to deal with.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ugly customer | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **deal** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A waiter had 12 customers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x1:1
# text = A waiter had 12 customers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waiter	waiter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | a waiter | 12 customers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent customer=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
8 customers left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x2:1
# text = 8 customers left.
1	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | participle · passive |  | 8 customers |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each customer bought 3 drinks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x3:1
# text = Each customer bought 3 drinks.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | each customer | 3 drinks |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drink=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many customers did he serve in all?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x4:1
# text = How many customers did he serve in all?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	serve	serve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | past · do-support | many customers |  |  |  |  | in all | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent in all=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop was full of customers before the holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x5:1
# text = The shop was full of customers before the holiday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the shop |  |  |  | before the holiday | of customers; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baker said hello to every customer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x6:1
# text = The baker said hello to every customer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baker	baker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hello	hello	INTJ	UH	_	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the baker |  | every customer |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent hello=Topic to customer=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Customers wait in a queue to pay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x7:1
# text = Customers wait in a queue to pay.
1	Customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wait	wait	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	queue	queue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | present | Customers |  |  | a queue |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in queue=Location |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive | Customers *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mrs Brown is a regular customer at the café.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x8:1
# text = Mrs Brown is a regular customer at the café.
1	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	Brown	Brown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
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	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Mrs | a regular customer |  | the café |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cucullin was an ugly customer to meet with; and, the idea of the "cake" aforesaid flattened the very heart within him.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:customer:x9:1
# text = Cucullin was an ugly customer to meet with; and, the idea of the "cake" aforesaid flattened the very heart within him.
1	Cucullin	Cucullin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	meet	meet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	aforesaid	aforesaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
20	flattened	flatten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	very	very	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
24	within	within	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Cucullin | a ugly customer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **meet** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **flatten** | past | the idea of the cake aforesaid | the heart |  |  |  | within Cucullin | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Patient |

<!-- 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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