---
title: police — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «police» in the school dictionary: The police are the people whose job is to keep everyone safe, help people in danger and make sure the laws are kept. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# police

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, job, police officer, one person, 12 police officers, police car · **What happens:** be, help, make, keep, work, have · **To what, where:** people, danger, laws, one person, station, 2 officers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«police» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [police in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/police.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police are the people whose job is to keep everyone safe, help people in danger and make sure the laws are kept.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:m1:1
# text = The police are the people whose job is to keep everyone safe, help people in danger and make sure the laws are kept.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	10	obj	_	_
12	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
20	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nsubj:pass	_	_
23	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the police | the people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | job |  |  |  |  | keep, safe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **help** | present |  |  | people | danger |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 5 | **keep** | present · passive |  | the laws |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .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 police officer is one person who works for the police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:m2:1
# text = A police officer is one person who works for the police.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a police officer | one person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | one person |  |  |  |  | for the police | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for police=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 12 police officers at the station.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x1:1
# text = There are 12 police officers at the station.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	station	station	NOUN	NN	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 | **does** | present | 12 police officers |  |  | the station; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at station=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each police car has 2 officers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x2:1
# text = Each police car has 2 officers.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each police car | 2 officers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent officer=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
4 police cars came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x3:1
# text = 4 police cars came.
1	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | police cars |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many police officers work in 3 shifts of 8?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x4:1
# text = How many police officers work in 3 shifts of 8?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	shifts	shift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | many police officers |  |  |  |  | in 3 shifts of 8 | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in shift=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you are lost, ask a police officer for help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x5:1
# text = If you are lost, ask a police officer for help.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | a police officer |  |  |  | for help | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent officer=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police are looking for the missing dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x6:1
# text = The police are looking for the missing dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present · progressive | the police |  |  |  |  | for the missing dog | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for dog=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A police car went past with its siren on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x7:1
# text = A police car went past with its siren on.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	past	past	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	siren	siren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go on** | past | a police car |  |  |  |  | with car's siren; past *property* | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited the police station on our school trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x8:1
# text = We visited the police station on our school trip.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	trip	trip	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 | **visit** | past | We | the police station |  | our school trip |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent station=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **trip** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom trip «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They hurried off to consult the police and see what could be done.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:police:x9:1
# text = They hurried off to consult the police and see what could be done.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hurried	hurry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	consult	consult	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurry off** | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **consult** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the police |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent police=Theme |
| 3 | **see** | infinitive | They *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **do** | could · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: what=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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