---
title: potter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «potter» in the school dictionary: A potter is a person who makes pots, bowls and other things from clay, often on a spinning wheel, and bakes them in a kiln. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# potter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** potter, person, Grandad, We, Beatrix, Harry · **What happens:** be, make, spin, bake, potter, move about · **To what, where:** person, pots, clay, potter, surname, bowl

<!-- .vabout -->
«potter» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [potter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/potter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A potter is a person who makes pots, bowls and other things from clay, often on a spinning wheel, and bakes them in a kiln.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:m1:1
# text = A potter is a person who makes pots, bowls and other things from clay, often on a spinning wheel, and bakes them in a kiln.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	potter	potter	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	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	bowls	bowl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	amod	_	_
21	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	bakes	bake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
25	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obj	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	kiln	kiln	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a potter | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | a person | pots and bowls and other things |  | clay |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent pot=Product from clay=Material |
| 3 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **bake** | present | a person *not said here* | pots *= pot* |  |  |  | in a kiln | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent they=Patient in kiln=Instrument |

<!-- .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: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To potter (about or around) is to do small, pleasant, unhurried jobs or move about slowly and happily («potter in the garden»).

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:m2:1
# text = To potter (about or around) is to do small, pleasant, unhurried jobs or move about slowly and happily («potter in the garden»).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	potter	potter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	around	around	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
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	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	unhurried	unhurried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
19	about	about	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	happily	happily	ADV	RB	_	20	conj	_	_
23	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **potter** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | do *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **move about** | infinitive |  | potter in the garden |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Potter is a surname, as in Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit, and the fictional Harry Potter.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:m3:1
# text = Potter is a surname, as in Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit, and the fictional Harry Potter.
1	Potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	surname	surname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Beatrix	Beatrix	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	Potter	Potter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	author	author	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	Rabbit	Rabbit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	fictional	fictional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
20	Harry	Harry	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Potter	Potter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The potter shaped a bowl on the spinning wheel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x1:1
# text = The potter shaped a bowl on the spinning wheel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shaped	shape	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	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	wheel	wheel	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 | **shape** | past | the potter | a bowl |  | the spinning wheel |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bowl=Product |
| 2 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Potters fire their pots in a hot kiln.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x2:1
# text = Potters fire their pots in a hot kiln.
1	Potters	potter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	kiln	kiln	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad likes to potter about in his shed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x3:1
# text = Grandad likes to potter about in his shed.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	potter	potter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **potter** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Grandad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about Grandad's shed | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent about shed=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We spent Sunday pottering around the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x4:1
# text = We spent Sunday pottering around the house.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	pottering	potter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | We |  |  |  | sunday |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **potter** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  | the house |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent around house=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beatrix Potter wrote «The Tale of Peter Rabbit».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x5:1
# text = Beatrix Potter wrote «The Tale of Peter Rabbit».
1	Beatrix	Beatrix	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Potter	Potter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Tale	Tale	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Rabbit	Rabbit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Beatrix | the Tale of Peter Rabbit |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tale=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harry Potter is a boy wizard in a book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x6:1
# text = Harry Potter is a boy wizard in a book.
1	Harry	Harry	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	Potter	Potter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Harry | a boy wizard |  | a book |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The potter's wheel spins very fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x7:1
# text = The potter's wheel spins very fast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	spins	spin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | present | the potter's wheel |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So the potter gave him beautiful raiment and ornaments, and the prince went to the palace.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:potter:x8:1
# text = So the potter gave him beautiful raiment and ornaments, and the prince went to the palace.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	raiment	raiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ornaments	ornament	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the potter | beautiful raiment and ornaments | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient raiment=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | past | the prince |  |  | the palace |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to palace=Initial\_Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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