---
title: godparent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «godparent» in the school dictionary: A godparent is a person chosen by a child's family to promise at the child's baptism to help them grow up in the Christian faith, and to be a special adult friend through life. A woman is a godmother; a man is a godfather. Every meaning for a pupil with its depe
---

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# godparent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** godparent, person, woman, man, godmother, godparents · **What happens:** be, choose, promise, help, grow up, send · **To what, where:** person, baptism, Christian faith, special adult friend, life, godmother

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A godparent is a person chosen by a child's family to promise at the child's baptism to help them grow up in the Christian faith, and to be a special adult friend through life. A woman is a godmother; a man is a godfather.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A godparent is a person chosen by a child's family to promise at the child's baptism to help them grow up in the Christian faith, and to be a special adult friend through life.

<!-- fold The tree, 36 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:m1:1
# text = A godparent is a person chosen by a child's family to promise at the child's baptism to help them grow up in the Christian faith, and to be a special adult friend through life.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	godparent	godparent	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	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	promise	promise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	baptism	baptism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	up	up	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	Christian	Christian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
30	to	to	PART	TO	_	35	mark	_	_
31	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	35	cop	_	_
32	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
33	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
34	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	compound	_	_
35	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
36	through	through	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	_
37	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a godparent | a person and a special adult friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | participle |  | a person and a special adult friend *not said here* |  |  |  | by a child's family | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **promise** *speech: promise* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the child's baptism |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **help** | to-infinitive |  | person |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 5 | **grow up** | infinitive | person *not said here* |  |  | the Christian faith |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in faith=Location |
| 6 | **is a** | to-infinitive | a godparent *not said here* | a special adult friend |  | life |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* A woman is a godmother; a man is a godfather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:m1:2
# text = A woman is a godmother; a man is a godfather.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woman	woman	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	godmother	godmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	godfather	godfather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a woman | a godmother and a godfather |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a man | a godfather |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My godmother always sends me a book for my birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x1:1
# text = My godmother always sends me a book for my birthday.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	godmother	godmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	sends	send	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | present | My godmother | a book | me |  |  | always *property* | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Destination book=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncle Joe was chosen to be my baby cousin's godparent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x2:1
# text = Uncle Joe was chosen to be my baby cousin's godparent.
1	Uncle	Uncle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Joe	Joe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	godparent	godparent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | past · passive |  | Uncle |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | my baby cousin's godparent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The godparents held the baby at the font.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x3:1
# text = The godparents held the baby at the font.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	godparents	godparent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	font	font	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the godparents | the baby |  | the font |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent baby=Theme at font=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cinderella's fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a coach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x4:1
# text = Cinderella's fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a coach.
1	Cinderella	Cinderella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	fairy	fairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	godmother	godmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pumpkin	pumpkin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | Cinderella's fairy godmother | a pumpkin |  | a coach |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent pumpkin=Theme into coach=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My godfather took me to my first football match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x5:1
# text = My godfather took me to my first football match.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	godfather	godfather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
8	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | My godfather |  | me | my first football match |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent i=Theme to match=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Godparents promise to help the child learn about faith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:godparent:x6:1
# text = Godparents promise to help the child learn about faith.
1	Godparents	godparent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promise	promise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | Godparents |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Godparents *not said here* | the child |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent child=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **learn** *not said to happen* | infinitive | the child *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about faith | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about faith=Topic |

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**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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