---
title: function — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «function» in the school dictionary: The job or purpose of something or someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# function

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, rule, function, lift, you, output · **What happens:** job, work, operate, turn, be, not be · **To what, where:** input number, one output number, 4, function machine, 12, function

<!-- .vabout -->
«function» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [function in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/function.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The job or purpose of something or someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:m1:1
# text = The job or purpose of something or someone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **job** |  | something |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: of=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To work or operate properly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:m2:1
# text = To work or operate properly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	work	work	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	operate	operate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	properly	properly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **operate** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | properly *property* | vn function-105.2.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A formal party or event.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:m3:1
# text = A formal party or event.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rule that turns each input number into exactly one output number, like a function machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:m4:1
# text = A rule that turns each input number into exactly one output number, like a function machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
6	input	input	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
11	output	output	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | a rule | each input number |  | one output number |  | like a function machine | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent number=Theme into number=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The function of the lungs is to take in air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x1:1
# text = The function of the lungs is to take in air.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the function of the lungs |  |  |  |  | take *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lift is not functioning today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x2:1
# text = The lift is not functioning today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	functioning	functioning	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | the lift |  |  |  | today | functioning *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put 4 into the function machine "× 3": the output is 12.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x3:1
# text = Put 4 into the function machine "× 3": the output is 12.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obj	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	×	×	SYM	SYM	_	9	case	_	_
9	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	output	output	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | 4 |  | the function machine |  | × 3 | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent 4=Goal |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the output | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school held a function to raise money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x4:1
# text = The school held a function to raise money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	raise	raise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the school | a function |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent function=Theme |
| 2 | **raise** | to-infinitive | the school *not said here* | money |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This table also functions as a desk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x5:1
# text = This table also functions as a desk.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	functions	function	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	desk	desk	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 | **function** | present | this table |  |  |  |  | as a desk | vn masquerade-29.6 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as desk=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the function of a full stop?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x6:1
# text = What is the function of a full stop?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the function of a full stop |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The computer stopped functioning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x7:1
# text = The computer stopped functioning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	functioning	functioning	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the computer |  |  |  |  | functioning *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The true fabulist, therefore, discharges a most important function.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:function:x8:1
# text = The true fabulist, therefore, discharges a most important function.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fabulist	fabulist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	therefore	therefore	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	discharges	discharge	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	10	advmod	_	_
10	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discharge** | present | the true fabulist | a important function |  |  |  | therefore *property* | vn banish-10.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent function=Theme |

<!-- 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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