---
title: labourer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «labourer» in the school dictionary: A person whose job is hard physical work, such as building, digging or farming, usually without special training. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# labourer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, hard physical work, labourers, great grandad, Thousands, labourer · **What happens:** be, dig, job, build, pay, carry up · **To what, where:** hard physical work, trench, farm labourer, railway, labourers, parable

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person whose job is hard physical work, such as building, digging or farming, usually without special training.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:m1:1
# text = A person whose job is hard physical work, such as building, digging or farming, usually without special training.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	physical	physical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	farming	farming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
19	without	without	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a person | hard physical work and building |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | gerund | hard physical work and building *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without special training | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **job** |  | hard physical work and building |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The labourers dug the trench for the new pipe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x1:1
# text = The labourers dug the trench for the new pipe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	labourers	labourer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pipe	pipe	NOUN	NN	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 | **dig** | past | the labourers | the trench |  |  |  | for the new pipe | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent trench=Result for pipe=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My great-grandad was a farm labourer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x2:1
# text = My great-grandad was a farm labourer.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	labourer	labourer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | My great grandad | a farm labourer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thousands of labourers built the railway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x3:1
# text = Thousands of labourers built the railway.
1	Thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	labourers	labourer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Thousands of labourers | the railway |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset railway=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the parable, the labourers in the vineyard were all paid the same.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x4:1
# text = In the parable, the labourers in the vineyard were all paid the same.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	labourers	labourer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	vineyard	vineyard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
11	all	all	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past · passive |  | the labourers in the vineyard |  | the parable |  | all *property* | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP NP»: subject=Recipient same=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The labourer carried bricks up the ladder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x5:1
# text = The labourer carried bricks up the ladder.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	labourer	labourer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry up** | past | the labourer | bricks |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Theme brick=Beneficiary ladder=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Labourers often work outside in all weathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x6:1
# text = Labourers often work outside in all weathers.
1	Labourers	labourer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	weathers	weather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | Labourers |  |  |  |  | in all weathers; often, outside *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in weather=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘I want to get work as a day labourer,’ he answered.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:labourer:x7:1
# text = ‘I want to get work as a day labourer,’ he answered.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	labourer	labourer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | work |  |  |  | as a day labourer | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer work=Stimulus as labourer=Attribute |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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.

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