---
title: informant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «informant» in the school dictionary: A person who gives information to someone else, for example to a researcher or reporter. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/informant/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / informant

# informant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, scientist, police, reporter, weasels, informant · **What happens:** give, interview, receive, not name, have, tell · **To what, where:** information, someone, police information, local informants, tip, informant · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who gives information to someone else, for example to a researcher or reporter.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:m1:1
# text = A person who gives information to someone else, for example to a researcher or reporter.
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	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
8	else	else	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	researcher	researcher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	reporter	reporter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | a person | information | someone |  |  | for example; to a researcher or reporter | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent information=Theme to someone=Recipient for example=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
A person who secretly gives the police information about crimes; an informer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:m2:1
# text = A person who secretly gives the police information about crimes; an informer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	crimes	crime	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	informer	informer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | a person | the police information |  |  |  | about crimes | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent information=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist interviewed local informants about the old customs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x1:1
# text = The scientist interviewed local informants about the old customs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	interviewed	interview	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	informants	informant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interview** *speech: other* | past | the scientist |  | local informants |  |  | about the old customs | vn interrogate-37.1.3 «NP V NP PP.topic»: agent=Agent informant=Recipient about custom=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police received a tip from an informant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x2:1
# text = The police received a tip from an informant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	informant	informant	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 | **receive** | past | the police | a tip |  |  |  | from a informant | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent tip=Theme from informant=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The reporter would not name her informant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x3:1
# text = The reporter would not name her informant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reporter	reporter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	name	name	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	informant	informant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **name** | would | the reporter | reporter's informant |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent informant=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Wild Wood, the weasels had an informant who told them Toad's plans.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x4:1
# text = In the Wild Wood, the weasels had an informant who told them Toad's plans.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Wild	Wild	PROPN	NNP	_	4	flat	_	_
4	Wood	Wood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	informant	informant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	iobj	_	_
14	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the weasels | a informant |  | the Wild Wood |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent informant=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | a informant | Toad's plans | weasels *= weasel* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient plan=Topic |
| 3 | **plan** |  | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Language researchers record informants speaking their language.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x5:1
# text = Language researchers record informants speaking their language.
1	Language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	researchers	researcher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	record	record	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	informants	informant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | present | Language researchers | informants |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent informant=Theme |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | informants *not said here* | researchers's language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective met his informant in the café.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x6:1
# text = The detective met his informant in the café.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	informant	informant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	café	café	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 | **meet** | past | the detective | detective's informant |  | the café |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent informant=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“He is reputed to be a wise and hardy man,” said his informant.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:informant:x7:1
# text = “He is reputed to be a wise and hardy man,” said his informant.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	reputed	repute	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	hardy	hardy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
14	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	informant	informant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repute** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | He |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  | a wise man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | man's informant |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [informally](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/informally/)
- next →: [information](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/information/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)