---
title: pawn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pawn» in the school dictionary: A pawn is the smallest and least powerful piece in chess; each player has eight. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pawn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pawn, player, someone, they, you, My · **What happens:** be, have, use, get, want, pawn · **To what, where:** eight, person, something, shop, money, end

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pawn is the smallest and least powerful piece in chess; each player has eight.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:m1:1
# text = A pawn is the smallest and least powerful piece in chess; each player has eight.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pawn	pawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
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	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	least	least	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
14	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
16	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a pawn |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | each player | eight |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eight=Patient |

<!-- .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 pawn is a person who is used by someone more powerful to get what they want.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:m2:1
# text = A pawn is a person who is used by someone more powerful to get what they want.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pawn	pawn	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	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
11	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	17	obj	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pawn | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present · passive | someone | a person |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **want** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pawn something is to leave it at a shop (a pawnbroker's) in exchange for a loan of money; you get it back if you pay the money back.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:m3:1
# text = To pawn something is to leave it at a shop (a pawnbroker's) in exchange for a loan of money; you get it back if you pay the money back.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pawn	pawn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pawnbroker	pawnbroker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	exchange	exchange	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	loan	loan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
24	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	obj	_	_
27	back	back	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
28	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	30	mark	_	_
29	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
30	pay	pay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	advcl	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obj	_	_
33	back	back	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pawn** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a shop |  | in exchange for a loan of money; leave *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **get back** | present | you | money |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 4 | **pay back** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | the money |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |
| 5 | **loan** |  |  | money |  |  |  |  | nom loan «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each player starts with eight pawns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x1:1
# text = Each player starts with eight pawns.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pawns	pawn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | each player |  |  |  |  | with eight pawns | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with pawn=Subeventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My pawn reached the end and became a queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x2:1
# text = My pawn reached the end and became a queen.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pawn	pawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reached	reach	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	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | past | My pawn | the end |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent end=Theme |
| 2 | **become** | past | My pawn *not said here* | a queen |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **pawn** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom pawn «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pawn captured the knight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x3:1
# text = The pawn captured the knight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pawn	pawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	captured	capture	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	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **capture** | past | the pawn | the knight |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knight=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was only a pawn in the villain's plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x4:1
# text = He was only a pawn in the villain's plan.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pawn	pawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | a pawn |  | the villain's plan |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She pawned her ring to pay the bills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x5:1
# text = She pawned her ring to pay the bills.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pawned	pawn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bills	bill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pawn** | past | She | her ring |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ring=Theme |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the bills |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bill=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pawnshop gave him money for his guitar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x6:1
# text = The pawnshop gave him money for his guitar.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pawnshop	pawnshop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the pawnshop | money | him *= he* |  |  | for pawnshop's guitar | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent he=Recipient money=Theme for guitar=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sheep in a fable must march on, as the pawn in chess must march on.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pawn:x7:1
# text = The sheep in a fable must march on, as the pawn in chess must march on.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	march	march	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pawn	pawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	march	march	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march on** | must | the sheep in a fable |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **march on** | must | the pawn in chess |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=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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