---
title: prefect — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prefect» in the school dictionary: A prefect is an older pupil chosen to help keep order and help younger pupils at school. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prefect

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** prefect, prefects, head prefect, you, Roman prefect · **What happens:** be, choose, help, keep, run, make · **To what, where:** older pupil, order, younger pupils, school, region, important officer

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prefect is an older pupil chosen to help keep order and help younger pupils at school.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:m1:1
# text = A prefect is an older pupil chosen to help keep order and help younger pupils at school.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
11	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
14	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	15	amod	_	_
15	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a prefect | a older pupil |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | participle |  | a older pupil *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **keep** | infinitive |  | order |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |
| 5 | **help** | infinitive |  |  | younger pupils | school |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pupil=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
In some countries, such as France, a prefect is an official who runs a region.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:m2:1
# text = In some countries, such as France, a prefect is an official who runs a region.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
14	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	region	region	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a prefect |  |  |  |  | official *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | present |  | a region |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme region=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In ancient Rome, a prefect was an important officer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:m3:1
# text = In ancient Rome, a prefect was an important officer.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a prefect | a important officer |  | ancient Rome |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was made a prefect in her last year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x1:1
# text = She was made a prefect in her last year.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	year	year	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 | **make** | past · passive |  | She |  |  | year |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary prefect=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prefects help at lunchtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x2:1
# text = The prefects help at lunchtime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prefects	prefect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	lunchtime	lunchtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the prefects |  |  | lunchtime |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prefect showed the new pupils round.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x3:1
# text = A prefect showed the new pupils round.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	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	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	round	round	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | a prefect |  | the new pupils |  |  | round *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent pupil=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head prefect gave a speech in assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x4:1
# text = The head prefect gave a speech in assembly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the head prefect | a speech |  | assembly |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent speech=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the prefects were very strict.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x5:1
# text = In the story, the prefects were very strict.
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	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	prefects	prefect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the prefects |  |  | the story |  | strict *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask a prefect if you get lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x6:1
# text = Ask a prefect if you get lost.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	get	get	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prefects wear a special badge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x7:1
# text = Prefects wear a special badge.
1	Prefects	prefect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	badge	badge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | Prefects | a special badge |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent badge=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Roman prefect ruled the city.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefect:x8:1
# text = The Roman prefect ruled the city.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	prefect	prefect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ruled	rule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | past | the Roman prefect | the city |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent city=Theme |

<!-- 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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