---
title: pointer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pointer» in the school dictionary: A stick, arrow or needle used to point at something, such as on a dial, scale or clock. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pointer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** arrow, type, value, you, pointer, my · **What happens:** use, point, move, hunt, tell, store · **To what, where:** stick, something, dog, scale, 3 kilograms, pointer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pointer» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [pointer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pointer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stick, arrow or needle used to point at something, such as on a dial, scale or clock.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:m1:1
# text = A stick, arrow or needle used to point at something, such as on a dial, scale or clock.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	point	point	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	dial	dial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a stick and arrow or needle *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **point** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A useful tip or piece of advice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:m2:1
# text = A useful tip or piece of advice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The arrow on a computer screen that you move with the mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:m3:1
# text = The arrow on a computer screen that you move with the mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | the arrow on a computer screen |  |  |  |  | with the mouse | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A type of hunting dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:m4:1
# text = A type of hunting dog.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	type	type	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	hunting	hunt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | gerund | a type *not said here* | dog |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A value that tells where something is stored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:m5:1
# text = A value that tells where something is stored.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	stored	store	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a value |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **store** | present · passive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the scale where the pointer stops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x1:1
# text = Read the scale where the pointer stops.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the scale |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scale=Topic |
| 2 | **stop** | present | the pointer |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pointer on the scales showed 3 kilograms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x2:1
# text = The pointer on the scales showed 3 kilograms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the pointer on the scales | 3 kilograms |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent kilogram=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Move the pointer to the icon and click.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x3:1
# text = Move the pointer to the icon and click.
1	Move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	icon	icon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pointer |  | the icon |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent pointer=Theme to icon=Trajectory |
| 2 | **click** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you give me a few pointers on my drawing?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x4:1
# text = Can you give me a few pointers on my drawing?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pointers	pointer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | can | you | a few pointers | me | my drawing |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent i=Recipient pointer=Theme on drawing=Asset |
| 2 | **draw** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher used a pointer to show the map.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x5:1
# text = The teacher used a pointer to show the map.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	map	map	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 | **use** | past | the teacher | a pointer |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pointer=Patient |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* | the map |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent map=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never shine a laser pointer in anyone's eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x6:1
# text = Never shine a laser pointer in anyone's eyes.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	shine	shine	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	laser	laser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **shine** | imperative | you *not said here* | a laser pointer |  | anyone's eyes |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent pointer=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pointer dog stands still and points at birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointer:x7:1
# text = A pointer dog stands still and points at birds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pointer	pointer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	points	point	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | a pointer dog |  |  |  | still |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **point** | present | a pointer dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at birds | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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