---
title: instruction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «instruction» in the school dictionary: Instructions are words that tell you how to do something or what to do: «read the instructions». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# instruction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Instructions, words, instruction, single command, you, lifeguard · **What happens:** be, tell, do, read, mean, swim · **To what, where:** words, you, something, instructions, order, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«instruction» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [instruction in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instruction.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instructions are words that tell you how to do something or what to do: «read the instructions».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:m1:1
# text = Instructions are words that tell you how to do something or what to do: «read the instructions».
1	Instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Instructions | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | words |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **read** *in a quote* | past |  | the instructions |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An instruction is an order from someone in charge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:m2:1
# text = An instruction is an order from someone in charge.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a instruction | a order |  | someone |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instruction means teaching: «swimming instruction».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:m3:1
# text = Instruction means teaching: «swimming instruction».
1	Instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Instruction | teaching |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teaching=Topic |
| 2 | **swim** *in a quote* | gerund | Instruction *not said here* | instruction |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme instruction=Trajectory |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A single command a computer follows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:m4:1
# text = A single command a computer follows.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	command	command	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	follows	follow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | a single command |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the instructions carefully before you start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x1:1
# text = Read the instructions carefully before you start.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the instructions |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Topic |
| 2 | **start** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Follow the instructions to build the model.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x2:1
# text = Follow the instructions to build the model.
1	Follow	follow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | imperative | you *not said here* | the instructions |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |
| 2 | **build** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the model |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset model=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lifeguard gave clear instructions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x3:1
# text = The lifeguard gave clear instructions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the lifeguard | clear instructions |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote instructions for making a sandwich.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x4:1
# text = We wrote instructions for making a sandwich.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sandwich	sandwich	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 | **write** | past | We | instructions |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | gerund | We *not said here* | a sandwich |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sandwich=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robot follows each instruction in order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x5:1
# text = The robot follows each instruction in order.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	follows	follow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | the robot | each instruction |  | order |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme in order=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She received swimming instruction twice a week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x6:1
# text = She received swimming instruction twice a week.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swim** | gerund | She *not said here* | instruction |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme instruction=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crimthann absorbed instruction like a sponge and digested it as rapidly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instruction:x7:1
# text = Crimthann absorbed instruction like a sponge and digested it as rapidly.
1	Crimthann	Crimthann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	absorbed	absorb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	digested	digest	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	as	as	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	rapidly	rapidly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | past | Crimthann | instruction |  |  |  | like a sponge | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal instruction=Theme |
| 2 | **digest** | past | Crimthann *not said here* | instruction |  |  |  | rapidly *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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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