---
title: gaffer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gaffer» in the school dictionary: The boss: a manager, foreman or the person in charge, especially of a football team or a group of workers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gaffer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chief electrician, gaffer, you, we, Old Gaffer, Gaffer tape · **What happens:** look, want, be, ask, leave, set up · **To what, where:** us, work, gaffer, lights, bench

<!-- .vabout -->
«gaffer» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [gaffer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gaffer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boss: a manager, foreman or the person in charge, especially of a football team or a group of workers.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:m1:1
# text = The boss: a manager, foreman or the person in charge, especially of a football team or a group of workers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	foreman	foreman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: film and TV — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chief electrician who looks after the lights on a film set.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:m2:1
# text = The chief electrician who looks after the lights on a film set.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	electrician	electrician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the chief electrician |  |  |  | after the lights | on a film set | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on set=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, old, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old man, especially in the countryside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:m3:1
# text = An old man, especially in the countryside.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	countryside	countryside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gaffer wants us at work by eight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x1:1
# text = The gaffer wants us at work by eight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gaffer	gaffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | the gaffer | us |  | work |  | by eight | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot we=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team's gaffer was angry at half-time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x2:1
# text = The team's gaffer was angry at half-time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	gaffer	gaffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the team's gaffer |  |  |  | time | angry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the gaffer if we can leave early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x3:1
# text = Ask the gaffer if we can leave early.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	gaffer	gaffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
8	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | the gaffer |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S»: agent=Agent gaffer=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** *a condition, not said to happen* | can | we |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gaffer set up the lights for the film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x4:1
# text = The gaffer set up the lights for the film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gaffer	gaffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set up** | participle | the gaffer *not said here* | the lights |  |  |  | for the film | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent light=Patient for film=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old Gaffer Jones sat on the bench by the pub.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x5:1
# text = Old Gaffer Jones sat on the bench by the pub.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Gaffer	Gaffer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
4	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bench	bench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pub	pub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | Old Gaffer |  |  | the bench |  | by the pub | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on bench=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gaffer tape is strong, sticky cloth tape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gaffer:x6:1
# text = Gaffer tape is strong, sticky cloth tape.
1	Gaffer	gaffer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Gaffer tape |  |  |  |  | sticky cloth tape *obl*; strong *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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