---
title: proffer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «proffer» in the school dictionary: To hold something out to someone so that they can take it; to offer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# proffer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, He, She, waiter, Rat, nobody · **What happens:** hold out, take, offer, proffer, listen, break · **To what, where:** something, it, advice, hand, friendship, cup

<!-- .vabout -->
«proffer» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [proffer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/proffer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To hold something out to someone so that they can take it; to offer.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:m1:1
# text = To hold something out to someone so that they can take it; to offer.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	out	out	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	offer	offer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold out** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | to someone; out *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **take** | can | they | it |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **offer** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To offer advice, help or an explanation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:m2:1
# text = To offer advice, help or an explanation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	offer	offer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | to-infinitive |  | advice and help or a explanation |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent advice=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He proffered his hand in friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x1:1
# text = He proffered his hand in friendship.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	proffered	proffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	friendship	friendship	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 | **proffer** | past | He | his hand |  | friendship |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She proffered a cup of tea to the visitor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x2:1
# text = She proffered a cup of tea to the visitor.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	proffered	proffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	visitor	visitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **proffer** | past | She | a cup of tea | the visitor |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent cup=Theme to visitor=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waiter proffered the menu.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x3:1
# text = The waiter proffered the menu.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waiter	waiter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	proffered	proffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	menu	menu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **proffer** | past | the waiter | the menu |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent menu=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Rat proffered a sandwich to the hungry Mole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x4:1
# text = The Rat proffered a sandwich to the hungry Mole.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	proffered	proffer	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	sandwich	sandwich	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	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 | **proffer** | past | the Rat | a sandwich | the hungry Mole |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent sandwich=Theme to mole=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He proffered his advice, but nobody listened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x5:1
# text = He proffered his advice, but nobody listened.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	proffered	proffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	_
8	listened	listen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **proffer** | past | He | his advice |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent advice=Theme |
| 2 | **listen** | past | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy proffered an apology for the broken window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proffer:x6:1
# text = The boy proffered an apology for the broken window.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	proffered	proffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	window	window	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 | **proffer** | past | the boy | a apology |  |  |  | for the broken window *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent apology=Theme for window=Goal |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

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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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