---
title: employ — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «employ» in the school dictionary: To employ someone is to give them a job and pay them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# employ

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bakery, council, factory, you, They, shop · **What happens:** employ, be, pay, mean, keep, do · **To what, where:** someone, them, something, method, yourself, six people · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To employ someone is to give them a job and pay them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:m1:1
# text = To employ someone is to give them a job and pay them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	employ	employ	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **pay** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Asset |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To employ something is to use it: employ a method.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:m2:1
# text = To employ something is to use it: employ a method.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	employ	employ	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	employ	employ	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | use *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **employ** | infinitive |  | a method |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To employ yourself means to keep yourself busy doing something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:m3:1
# text = To employ yourself means to keep yourself busy doing something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	employ	employ	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | to-infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  | busy *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bakery employs six people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x1:1
# text = The bakery employs six people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bakery	bakery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	employs	employ	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	people	people	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 | **employ** | present | the bakery | six people |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My mum is employed by the council.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x2:1
# text = My mum is employed by the council.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	employed	employ	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | present · passive | the council | My mum |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The factory employs 200 workers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x3:1
# text = The factory employs 200 workers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	employs	employ	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	workers	worker	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 | **employ** | present | the factory | 200 workers |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent worker=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Employ a suitable method to solve the problem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x4:1
# text = (formal) Employ a suitable method to solve the problem.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Employ	employ	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	suitable	suitable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | imperative | you *not said here* | a suitable method |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the problem |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They employed a builder to fix the roof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x5:1
# text = They employed a builder to fix the roof.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	employed	employ	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | past | They | a builder |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent builder=Theme |
| 2 | **fix** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the roof |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent roof=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop employs extra staff at Christmas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x6:1
# text = The shop employs extra staff at Christmas.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	employs	employ	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	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 | **employ** | present | the shop | extra staff |  | Christmas |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent staff=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can employ yourself in embroidering your wedding gown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:employ:x7:1
# text = You can employ yourself in embroidering your wedding gown.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	employ	employ	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	embroidering	embroider	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	gown	gown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **employ** | can | You | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Theme |
| 2 | **embroider** | gerund | You *not said here* | your wedding gown |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gown=Product |

<!-- 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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