---
title: pay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pay» in the school dictionary: To pay is to give money for something you buy or for work done. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Pay, person, many cents, Mia, Ben · **What happens:** pay, be, buy, do, get, look · **To what, where:** money, attention, visit, 5 cents, 20 cents, you

<!-- .vabout -->
«pay» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [pay in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pay.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pay is to give money for something you buy or for work done.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:m1:1
# text = To pay is to give money for something you buy or for work done.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	buy	buy	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
14	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for something; give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **buy** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pay is the money a person gets for work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:m2:1
# text = Pay is the money a person gets for work.
1	Pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pay | the money |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | a person | the money *not said here* |  |  |  | for work | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent money=Theme for work=Source |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pay attention is to listen or look carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:m3:1
# text = To pay attention is to listen or look carefully.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  | attention |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | listen *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pay a visit is to visit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:m4:1
# text = To pay a visit is to visit.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	visit	visit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	visit	visit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  | a visit |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent visit=Asset |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | visit *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many cents does Tom pay?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x1:1
# text = How many cents does Tom pay?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cents	cent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | present · do-support | many cents |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia pays 5 cents for each apple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x2:1
# text = Mia pays 5 cents for each apple.
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pays	pay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cents	cent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | present | Mia | 5 cents |  |  |  | for each apple | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent cent=Asset for apple=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ben paid 20 cents and got 4 cents back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x3:1
# text = Ben paid 20 cents and got 4 cents back.
1	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cents	cent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	cents	cent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | Ben | 20 cents |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cent=Asset |
| 2 | **get** | past | Ben *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad paid for our tickets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x4:1
# text = Dad paid for our tickets.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  | for our tickets | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for ticket=Theme |
| 2 | **ticket** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom ticket «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'll pay you back tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x5:1
# text = I'll pay you back tomorrow.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay back** | future | I | you |  |  | tomorrow |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pay attention when the teacher is talking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x6:1
# text = Pay attention when the teacher is talking.
1	Pay	pay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | imperative | you *not said here* | attention |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |
| 2 | **talk** | present · progressive | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard work will pay off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x7:1
# text = Hard work will pay off.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay off** | future | Hard work |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We paid a visit to Grandma on Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pay:x8:1
# text = We paid a visit to Grandma on Sunday.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	visit	visit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | We | a visit | Grandma |  | sunday |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent visit=Asset |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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