---
title: policeman — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «policeman» in the school dictionary: A policeman is a man who is a member of the police, the people whose job is to keep people safe and make sure laws are obeyed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# policeman

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** policeman, job, old lady, you, Two policemen, uncle · **What happens:** be, make, obey, help, cross, lose · **To what, where:** member, laws, old lady, road, you, boy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A policeman is a man who is a member of the police, the people whose job is to keep people safe and make sure laws are obeyed.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:m1:1
# text = A policeman is a man who is a member of the police, the people whose job is to keep people safe and make sure laws are obeyed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	member	member	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
16	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl:relcl	_	_
21	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
22	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	xcomp	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	_
25	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	xcomp	_	_
26	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	nsubj:pass	_	_
27	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	aux:pass	_	_
28	obeyed	obey	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	25	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a policeman | a member |  |  |  | of the police and the people | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | job |  |  |  |  | keep, safe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive | job *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **obey** | present · passive |  | laws |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The policeman helped the old lady cross the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x1:1
# text = The policeman helped the old lady cross the road.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	road	road	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 | **help** | past | the policeman | the old lady |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent lady=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **cross** | infinitive | the old lady *not said here* | the road |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you get lost, look for a policeman or police officer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x2:1
# text = If you get lost, look for a policeman or police officer.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	get	get	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	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	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 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a policeman or police officer | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for policeman=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two policemen came to talk to our class about safety.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x3:1
# text = Two policemen came to talk to our class about safety.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	policemen	policeman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Two policemen |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive | Two policemen *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to our class about safety | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to class=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The policeman wrote down what the boy had seen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x4:1
# text = The policeman wrote down what the boy had seen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	obl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | past | the policeman |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **see** | past · perfect · passive |  | the boy |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle is a policeman in Dublin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x5:1
# text = My uncle is a policeman in Dublin.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	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	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Dublin	Dublin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My uncle | a policeman |  | Dublin |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A policeman on a horse rode through the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x6:1
# text = A policeman on a horse rode through the park.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	rode	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What's the matter, old man?" asked a sympathizing policeman.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policeman:x7:1
# text = "What's the matter, old man?" asked a sympathizing policeman.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	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	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
11	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sympathizing	sympathize	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
14	policeman	policeman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | the matter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the matter | a sympathizing policeman |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent policeman=Recipient |
| 3 | **sympathize** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn empathize-88.2 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

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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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