---
title: probation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «probation» in the school dictionary: Probation is when a person who broke the law is allowed to stay out of prison but must behave well and meet regularly with a probation officer for a set time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# probation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, Probation, employer, new worker, Academic probation, marks · **What happens:** break, be, stay out, behave, meet, check · **To what, where:** law, Probation, prison, trial time, start, new job

<!-- .vabout -->
«probation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [probation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/probation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Probation is when a person who broke the law is allowed to stay out of prison but must behave well and meet regularly with a probation officer for a set time.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:m1:1
# text = Probation is when a person who broke the law is allowed to stay out of prison but must behave well and meet regularly with a probation officer for a set time.
1	Probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
20	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	19	advmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	meet	meet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
23	regularly	regularly	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
24	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
28	for	for	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | a person | the law |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer law=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present · passive |  | Probation |  |  |  | allow *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **stay out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Probation *not said here* | prison |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme prison=Location |
| 4 | **behave** | must | Probation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **meet** | infinitive | Probation *not said here* |  |  |  | time | with a probation officer; regularly *property* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with officer=Co-Agent |

<!-- .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: work — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Probation is a trial time at the start of a new job, when the employer checks that the new worker is suitable.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:m2:1
# text = Probation is a trial time at the start of a new job, when the employer checks that the new worker is suitable.
1	Probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	trial	trial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	employer	employer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
18	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	worker	worker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
23	suitable	suitable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Probation | a trial time |  | the start of a new job |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **check** | present | the employer |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | the new worker |  |  |  |  | suitable *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **start** |  |  | a new job |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Academic probation is a warning time for a student whose marks or behaviour are too poor.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:m3:1
# text = Academic probation is a warning time for a student whose marks or behaviour are too poor.
1	Academic	academic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	student	student	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	too	too	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Academic probation | a warning time |  |  |  | for a student | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | marks or behaviour |  |  |  |  | poor *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The young man was put on probation instead of going to prison.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x1:1
# text = The young man was put on probation instead of going to prison.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past · passive |  | the young man |  | probation |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: subject=Theme on probation=Destination |
| 2 | **go** | gerund |  | prison |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He meets his probation officer every week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x2:1
# text = He meets his probation officer every week.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | present | He | his probation officer |  |  | week |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent officer=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is still on probation at her new job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x3:1
# text = Mum is still on probation at her new job.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	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	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mum |  |  | probation | still | at her new job | tree rules |
| 2 | **job** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the probation period, she got a permanent contract.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x4:1
# text = After the probation period, she got a permanent contract.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	permanent	permanent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	contract	contract	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | she | a permanent contract |  |  | after the probation period |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer contract=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If he breaks the rules of his probation, he could go to prison.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x5:1
# text = If he breaks the rules of his probation, he could go to prison.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	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	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | he | the rules of his probation |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rule=Patient |
| 2 | **go** | could | he |  |  | prison |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to prison=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **rule** |  | his probation |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our new puppy is "on probation" until it stops chewing shoes!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probation:x6:1
# text = Our new puppy is "on probation" until it stops chewing shoes!
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	probation	probation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	chewing	chew	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	_
13	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Our new puppy |  |  | probation |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | present | puppy |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **chew** | gerund | puppy *not said here* | shoes |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

<!-- 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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