---
title: pickpocket — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pickpocket» in the school dictionary: A thief who steals money, phones or wallets from people's pockets or bags without them noticing, often in crowds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pickpocket

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thief, money, you, pickpocket, police, boy · **What happens:** steal, notice, beware, catch, hand, keep · **To what, where:** money, crowds, pocket, crowded train, wallet, market

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thief who steals money, phones or wallets from people's pockets or bags without them noticing, often in crowds.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:m1:1
# text = A thief who steals money, phones or wallets from people's pockets or bags without them noticing, often in crowds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	steals	steal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wallets	wallet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	pockets	pocket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	noticing	notice	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	crowds	crowd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | present | a thief | money and phones from people's pockets or bags or wallets |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location money=Theme |
| 2 | **notice** | gerund | money |  |  | crowds |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: verb, rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To steal from someone's pocket in this way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:m2:1
# text = To steal from someone's pocket in this way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	steal	steal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | someone's pocket |  | in this way | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beware of pickpockets on the crowded train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x1:1
# text = Beware of pickpockets on the crowded train.
1	Beware	beware	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	pickpockets	pickpocket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	crowded	crowded	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beware** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the crowded train |  | of pickpockets | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pickpocket stole Dad's wallet at the market.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x2:1
# text = A pickpocket stole Dad's wallet at the market.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pickpocket	pickpocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	wallet	wallet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	market	market	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 | **steal** | past | a pickpocket | Dad's wallet |  | the market |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wallet=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police caught the pickpocket red-handed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x3:1
# text = The police caught the pickpocket red-handed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pickpocket	pickpocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	handed	hand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the police | the pickpocket |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pickpocket=Theme |
| 2 | **hand** | participle |  | the pickpocket *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep your phone in a zipped pocket to stop pickpockets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x4:1
# text = Keep your phone in a zipped pocket to stop pickpockets.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	zipped	zipped	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	pickpockets	pickpocket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | your phone |  | a zipped pocket |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent phone=Theme in pocket=Location |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | pickpockets |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality pickpocket=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pickpocket bumped into her and took her purse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x5:1
# text = The pickpocket bumped into her and took her purse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pickpocket	pickpocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bumped	bump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	purse	purse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bump** | past | the pickpocket |  |  |  |  | into her *= she* | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into she=Location |
| 2 | **take** | past | the pickpocket *not said here* | pickpocket's purse |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purse=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, a boy is taught to be a pickpocket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x6:1
# text = In the story, a boy is taught to be a pickpocket.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	taught	teach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pickpocket	pickpocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | a boy |  | the story |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | a boy *not said here* | a pickpocket |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pickpocket took 3 of the 10 coins; how many are left?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pickpocket:x7:1
# text = A pickpocket took 3 of the 10 coins; how many are left?
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pickpocket	pickpocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | a pickpocket | 3 of the 10 coins |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 3=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | present · passive |  | many |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

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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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