---
title: pro — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pro» in the school dictionary: A pro is a professional: a person paid for a sport or job. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pro

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pro, You, Pros, She, He, 's · **What happens:** be, pay, mean, favour, avoid, play · **To what, where:** professional person, someone, pro, this, reasons, favour

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pro is a professional: a person paid for a sport or job.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:m1:1
# text = A pro is a professional: a person paid for a sport or job.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	professional	professional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pro | a professional person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | participle |  | a professional person *not said here* |  |  |  | for a sport or job | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for sport=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pro is someone very good at something: «You're a pro at this!».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:m2:1
# text = A pro is someone very good at something: «You're a pro at this!».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pro | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | You | a pro |  | this |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pros are reasons for something: «pros and cons» are reasons for and against.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:m3:1
# text = Pros are reasons for something: «pros and cons» are reasons for and against.
1	Pros	pro	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	pros	pro	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	cons	con	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	against	against	ADP	IN	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pros | reasons and reasons |  |  |  | for something | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | pros and cons | reasons |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pro- as a prefix means in favour of: pro-environment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:m4:1
# text = Pro- as a prefix means in favour of: pro-environment.
1	Pro	pro	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	prefix	prefix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
11	pro-environment	pro-environment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | favour of pro-environment |  | as a prefix; pro *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as prefix=Attribute |
| 2 | **favour** |  |  | pro-environment |  |  |  |  | nom favour «feeling transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Pro» can be short for a prostitute; avoid this use.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:m5:1
# text = «Pro» can be short for a prostitute; avoid this use.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Pro	pro	X	GW	_	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	prostitute	prostitute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
12	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Pro |  |  |  |  | for a prostitute; short *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **avoid** | infinitive |  | this use |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent use=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She plays tennis like a pro.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x1:1
# text = She plays tennis like a pro.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | She | tennis |  |  |  | like a pro | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tennis=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wants to turn pro when he's older.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x2:1
# text = He wants to turn pro when he's older.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	pro	pro	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **turn pro** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | he |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's list the pros and cons of having a dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x3:1
# text = Let's list the pros and cons of having a dog.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	list	list	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pros	pro	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cons	con	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **list** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | the pros and cons |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** | gerund | the pros and cons *not said here* | a dog |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One pro of walking to school is the exercise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x4:1
# text = One pro of walking to school is the exercise.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	walking	walking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | One pro of walking to school | the exercise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) You're a real pro at fixing bikes!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x5:1
# text = (informal) You're a real pro at fixing bikes!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	NUM	LS	_	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pro	pro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	fixing	fix	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	bikes	bike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | You | a real pro |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fix** | gerund | a real pro *not said here* | bikes |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent bike=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is pro-recycling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x6:1
# text = She is pro-recycling.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pro-recycling	pro-recycl	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pro-recycl** | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The golf pro gave us a lesson.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x7:1
# text = The golf pro gave us a lesson.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	golf	golf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	pro	pro	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	2	dep	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the golf | a lesson | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient lesson=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weigh up the pros before you decide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pro:x8:1
# text = Weigh up the pros before you decide.
1	Weigh	weigh	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pros	pro	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	decide	decide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weigh up** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pros |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme pro=Value |
| 2 | **decide** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «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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