---
title: operative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «operative» in the school dictionary: Working, in action: «The new system is now operative.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# operative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** new system, worker, new lift, factory, spy film, Grandad · **What happens:** work, be, do, hire, follow, need · **To what, where:** machines, factory, ten more operatives, secret operative, Paris, Free operative word

<!-- .vabout -->
«operative» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [operative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/operative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Working, in action: «The new system is now operative.».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:m1:1
# text = Working, in action: «The new system is now operative.».
1	Working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	operative	operative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | gerund | the new system *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in action | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in action=Theme |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the new system |  |  |  | now | operative *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A worker, especially one who works machines in a factory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:m2:1
# text = A worker, especially one who works machines in a factory.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worker	worker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | a worker | machines |  | a factory |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent machine=Material |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A secret agent or spy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:m3:1
# text = A secret agent or spy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	agent	agent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with a medical operation: «post-operative care».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:m4:1
# text = To do with a medical operation: «post-operative care».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	medical	medical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	operation	operation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	post-operative	post-operative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with a medical operation | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new lift will be operative from Monday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x1:1
# text = The new lift will be operative from Monday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	operative	operative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | the new lift |  |  |  | monday | operative *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The factory hired ten more operatives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x2:1
# text = The factory hired ten more operatives.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hired	hire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	operatives	operative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire** | past | the factory | ten more operatives |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent operative=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spy film followed a secret operative in Paris.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x3:1
# text = The spy film followed a secret operative in Paris.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	followed	follow	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	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	operative	operative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Paris	Paris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | the spy film | a secret operative |  | Paris |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent operative=Theme in paris=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Free» was the operative word in the advert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x4:1
# text = «Free» was the operative word in the advert.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	operative	operative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | the Free operative word |  | the advert |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After his operation Grandad needed post-operative care.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x5:1
# text = After his operation Grandad needed post-operative care.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	operation	operation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	post-operative	post-operative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	care	care	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 | **need** | past | Grandad | post-operative care |  |  | after his operation |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot care=Theme |
| 2 | **operate** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom operation «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rules became operative at the start of term.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:operative:x6:1
# text = The rules became operative at the start of term.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	operative	operative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | the rules | operative |  | the start of term |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | term |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

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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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