---
title: investigator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «investigator» in the school dictionary: An investigator is a person whose job is to find out the facts about something, such as a crime or an accident, by asking questions and looking for evidence. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# investigator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** investigator, job, private investigator, people, researcher, Accident investigators · **What happens:** be, ask, look, pay, carry out, search · **To what, where:** person, questions, detective, researcher, science, study · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An investigator is a person whose job is to find out the facts about something, such as a crime or an accident, by asking questions and looking for evidence.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:m1:1
# text = An investigator is a person whose job is to find out the facts about something, such as a crime or an accident, by asking questions and looking for evidence.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	investigator	investigator	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	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
26	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	obj	_	_
27	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	26	conj	_	_
30	for	for	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a investigator | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | job |  |  |  |  | find *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  | questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |
| 4 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for evidence | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for evidence=Theme |

<!-- .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 private investigator is a detective who is paid by people, not by the police.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:m2:1
# text = A private investigator is a detective who is paid by people, not by the police.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a private investigator | a detective |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | present · passive | people and the police | a detective |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science, an investigator is a researcher who carries out a study.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:m3:1
# text = In science, an investigator is a researcher who carries out a study.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	researcher	researcher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a investigator | a researcher |  | science |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry out** | present | a researcher | a study |  |  |  |  | vn act-114 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent study=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The investigator searched the room for clues.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x1:1
# text = The investigator searched the room for clues.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	searched	search	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | past | the investigator | the room |  |  |  | for clues | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent room=Location for clue=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A private investigator was hired to find the missing dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x2:1
# text = A private investigator was hired to find the missing dog.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	hired	hire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire** | past · passive |  | a private investigator |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | the missing dog |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Accident investigators studied the train crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x3:1
# text = Accident investigators studied the train crash.
1	Accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	investigators	investigator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Accident investigators | the train crash |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crash=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science today, we will be investigators and test which paper towel is strongest.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x4:1
# text = In science today, we will be investigators and test which paper towel is strongest.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
3	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	investigators	investigator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
12	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | future | we | investigators and test |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | investigators and test |  |  | science  today |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The investigator asked each witness what they saw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x5:1
# text = The investigator asked each witness what they saw.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the investigator | each witness |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S»: agent=Agent witness=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **see** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crime scene investigators wear suits so they do not spoil the evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x6:1
# text = Crime scene investigators wear suits so they do not spoil the evidence.
1	Crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	investigators	investigator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	suits	suit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	spoil	spoil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | scene investigators | suits |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent suit=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **spoil** | present · do-support | investigators *= investigator* | the evidence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lead investigator held a press conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:investigator:x7:1
# text = The lead investigator held a press conference.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lead	lead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	investigator	investigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the lead investigator | a press conference |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conference=Theme |

<!-- 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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