---
title: grammarian — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «grammarian» in the school dictionary: A person who studies grammar, the rules of how words and sentences are built in a language, or who writes books about it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# grammarian

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, Pāṇini, ancient grammarian, grammarian, aunt, Grammarians · **What happens:** study, build, write, care, be, describe · **To what, where:** grammar, words, language, books, lot, ancient grammarian · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«grammarian» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [grammarian in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/grammarian.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who studies grammar, the rules of how words and sentences are built in a language, or who writes books about it.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:m1:1
# text = A person who studies grammar, the rules of how words and sentences are built in a language, or who writes books about it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	studies	study	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
11	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
23	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	_
24	about	about	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | a person | grammar and the rules |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grammar=Topic |
| 2 | **build** | present · passive |  | words and sentences |  | a language |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 3 | **write** | present |  | books |  |  |  | about language | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent book=Recipient about it=Topic |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone who cares a lot about correct grammar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:m2:1
# text = Someone who cares a lot about correct grammar.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cares	care	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **care** | present |  | a lot |  |  |  | about correct grammar | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pāṇini was an ancient grammarian who described Sanskrit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x1:1
# text = Pāṇini was an ancient grammarian who described Sanskrit.
1	Pāṇini	Pāṇini	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	described	describe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	Sanskrit	Sanskrit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Pāṇini | a ancient grammarian |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | past | a ancient grammarian | Sanskrit |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent sanskrit=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A grammarian would say «fewer apples», not «less apples».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x2:1
# text = A grammarian would say «fewer apples», not «less apples».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | would | a grammarian | fewer apples |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent apple=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grammarian wrote a big book about English verbs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x3:1
# text = The grammarian wrote a big book about English verbs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	verbs	verb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the grammarian | a big book |  |  |  | about English verbs | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent book=Recipient about verb=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt is a real grammarian and corrects every text.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x4:1
# text = My aunt is a real grammarian and corrects every text.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	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	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	corrects	correct	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My aunt | a real grammarian |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **correct** *speech: disagree* | present | My aunt *not said here* | every text |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent text=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grammarians study how languages change over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x5:1
# text = Grammarians study how languages change over time.
1	Grammarians	grammarian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Grammarians |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | present | languages |  |  |  | time |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not every grammarian agrees about split infinitives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x6:1
# text = Not every grammarian agrees about split infinitives.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	agrees	agree	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	split	split	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	infinitives	infinitive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | present | every grammarian | split infinitives |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent infinitive=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I replied that I had been educated as a grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grammarian:x7:1
# text = I replied that I had been educated as a grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	educated	educate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	grammarian	grammarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	poet	poet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
15	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
16	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
17	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	writing	write	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **educate** *speech: other* | past · perfect · passive |  | I |  |  |  | as a grammarian and a poet | vn advise-37.9 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 3 | **write** | past · progressive | my great gift |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **gift** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom gift «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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