---
title: narrator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «narrator» in the school dictionary: The person or voice who tells the story in a book, poem, film or play. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# narrator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, words, narrator, I, our, David · **What happens:** tell, read, speak, explain, happen, be · **To what, where:** story, book, words, little dog, narrator, class play · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The person or voice who tells the story in a book, poem, film or play.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:m1:1
# text = The person or voice who tells the story in a book, poem, film or play.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the person or voice | the story |  | a book and poem and film or play |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

<!-- .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 reads or speaks the words that explain what is happening, as in a documentary, audiobook or school play.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:m2:1
# text = A person who reads or speaks the words that explain what is happening, as in a documentary, audiobook or school play.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	explain	explain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	audiobook	audiobook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | a person *not said here* | the words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | the words | the words |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 4 | **happen** | present · progressive | a person |  |  |  |  | as a documentary and audiobook or school play | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The narrator of the story is a little dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x1:1
# text = The narrator of the story is a little dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the narrator of the story | a little dog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our class play I was the narrator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x2:1
# text = In our class play I was the narrator.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	narrator	narrator	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 | I | the narrator |  | our class play |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom play «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I opened the door," says the narrator, so it is a first-person story.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x3:1
# text = "I opened the door," says the narrator, so it is a first-person story.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opened	open	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
8	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	18	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** *in a quote* | past | the narrator *= narrator* | the door |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location door=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the narrator |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **is a** | present | narrator | a person story |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
David Attenborough is the narrator of many nature programmes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x4:1
# text = David Attenborough is the narrator of many nature programmes.
1	David	David	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	Attenborough	Attenborough	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	programmes	programme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	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 | David | the narrator |  |  |  | of many nature programmes | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The narrator doesn't tell us the boy's name until the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x5:1
# text = The narrator doesn't tell us the boy's name until the end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
11	until	until	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | present · do-support | the narrator | the boy's name | us |  | until the end |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient name=Topic |
| 2 | **name** |  | the boy |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can we trust this narrator, or is he hiding something?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x6:1
# text = Can we trust this narrator, or is he hiding something?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	trust	trust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trust** | can | we | this narrator |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrator=Theme |
| 2 | **hide** | present · progressive | he | something |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The audiobook narrator did funny voices for each character.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrator:x7:1
# text = The audiobook narrator did funny voices for each character.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	audiobook	audiobook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the audiobook narrator | funny voices |  |  |  | for each character | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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