---
title: errand — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «errand» in the school dictionary: An errand is a short trip to do a small job, like buying something, delivering something or taking a message. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# errand

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** errand, you, Mum, I, She · **What happens:** be, do, buy, deliver, take, run · **To what, where:** short trip, small job, something, message, errand, bread

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An errand is a short trip to do a small job, like buying something, delivering something or taking a message.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:m1:1
# text = An errand is a short trip to do a small job, like buying something, delivering something or taking a message.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	errand	errand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	delivering	deliver	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	conj	_	_
18	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	conj	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a errand | a short trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | a small job |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **buy** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 4 | **deliver** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 5 | **take** | gerund |  | a message |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you run an errand for me and buy some bread?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x1:1
# text = Can you run an errand for me and buy some bread?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	errand	errand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | can | you | a errand |  |  |  | for me | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent errand=Product for i=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **buy** | infinitive | you *not said here* | some bread |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bread=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is out running errands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x2:1
# text = Mum is out running errands.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	out	out	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	_
4	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
5	errands	errand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mum |  |  |  |  | out *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | Mum *not said here* | errands |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme errand=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I went on an errand to the post office.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x3:1
# text = I went on an errand to the post office.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	errand	errand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | I |  |  | a errand |  | to the post office | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to office=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy was sent on an errand to the baker's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x4:1
# text = The boy was sent on an errand to the baker's.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	errand	errand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	baker	baker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past · passive |  | the boy |  | a errand |  | to the baker | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to baker=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saturday morning is for errands and shopping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x5:1
# text = Saturday morning is for errands and shopping.
1	Saturday	Saturday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	errands	errand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	shopping	shopping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for morning errands and shopping | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She does errands for her elderly neighbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x6:1
# text = She does errands for her elderly neighbour.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	errands	errand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	elderly	elderly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | She | errands |  |  |  | for her elderly neighbour | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent errand=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘What is your errand here?’ asked the woman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:errand:x7:1
# text = ‘What is your errand here?’ asked the woman.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	errand	errand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | your errand |  | here |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | your errand |  | the woman |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent woman=Recipient |

<!-- 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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