---
title: helping — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «helping» in the school dictionary: An amount of food served to one person at one time: a second helping of pudding. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# helping

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Giving, helping hand, I, Thanks, Helping, me · **What happens:** serve, amount, give, help, be, mean · **To what, where:** food, one person, help, others, second helping, helping hand · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«helping» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [helping in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/helping.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An amount of food served to one person at one time: a second helping of pudding.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:m1:1
# text = An amount of food served to one person at one time: a second helping of pudding.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	served	serve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	15	amod	_	_
15	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	pudding	pudding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | participle |  | food *not said here* | one person at one time |  |  |  | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to person=Recipient |
| 2 | **amount** |  |  | food |  |  |  |  | nom amount «possession transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving help: helping others is kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:m2:1
# text = Giving help: helping others is kind.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	helping	help	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | help |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent help=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | gerund |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **is** | present | Giving |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A helping hand» means some help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:m3:1
# text = «A helping hand» means some help.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a helping hand | some help |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent help=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I have a second helping of lasagne, please?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x1:1
# text = Can I have a second helping of lasagne, please?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lasagne	lasagne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | can | I | a second helping of lasagne |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent helping=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thanks for giving me a helping hand with the boxes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x2:1
# text = Thanks for giving me a helping hand with the boxes.
1	Thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	boxes	box	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund | Thanks *not said here* | a helping hand | me |  |  | with the boxes | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient hand=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Helping at the food bank made me feel good.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x3:1
# text = Helping at the food bank made me feel good.
1	Helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | gerund |  |  |  | the food bank |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | past | Helping | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each helping of soup is 250 millilitres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x4:1
# text = Each helping of soup is 250 millilitres.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	250	250	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	millilitres	millilitre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | each helping of soup | 250 millilitres |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If one cake makes 8 helpings, 3 cakes make 24 helpings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x5:1
# text = If one cake makes 8 helpings, 3 cakes make 24 helpings.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	helpings	helping	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	cakes	cake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	24	24	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	helpings	helping	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | one cake | 8 helpings |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material helping=Product |
| 2 | **make** | present | 3 cakes | 24 helpings |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material helping=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm helping Gran with her garden on Saturday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x6:1
# text = I'm helping Gran with her garden on Saturday.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	helping	help	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Saturday	Saturday	PROPN	NNP	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 | **help** | present · progressive | I |  | Gran |  | saturday | with Gran's garden | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent gran=Beneficiary with garden=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She took a small helping because she wasn't hungry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x7:1
# text = She took a small helping because she wasn't hungry.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | She | a small helping |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent helping=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | hungry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thought only of helping the queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helping:x8:1
# text = He thought only of helping the queen.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | gerund | He *not said here* |  | the queen |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent queen=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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