---
title: proper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «proper» in the school dictionary: Right, correct or suitable for the situation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# proper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** good manners, proper fraction, top number, proper way, you, London · **What happens:** behave, follow, rule, be, hold, wear · **To what, where:** rules, one, maths, pencil, proper shoes, toys · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«proper» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [proper in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/proper.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Right, correct or suitable for the situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m1:1
# text = Right, correct or suitable for the situation.
1	Right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	suitable	suitable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the proper way to hold a pencil".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m1e:1
# text = "the proper way to hold a pencil".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | the proper way | a pencil |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real, true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m2:1
# text = Real, true.
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a proper meal", not just a snack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m2e:1
# text = "a proper meal", not just a snack.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	snack	snack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polite and well-behaved, following the rules of good manners.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m3:1
# text = Polite and well-behaved, following the rules of good manners.
1	Polite	polite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
3	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **follow** | gerund |  | the rules of good manners |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |
| 3 | **rule** |  | good manners |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, a proper fraction is one where the top number is smaller than the bottom number.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:m4:1
# text = In maths, a proper fraction is one where the top number is smaller than the bottom number.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fraction	fraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	14	advmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	advcl	_	_
15	than	than	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a proper fraction | one |  | maths |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the top number |  |  |  |  | than the bottom number; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear proper shoes for the hike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x1:1
# text = Wear proper shoes for the hike.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hike	hike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | proper shoes |  |  |  | for the hike | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the toys back in their proper place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x2:1
# text = Put the toys back in their proper place.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put back** | imperative | you *not said here* | the toys |  | toys's proper place |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent toy=Theme in place=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"London" is a proper noun, so it starts with a capital letter.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x3:1
# text = "London" is a proper noun, so it starts with a capital letter.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | London | a proper noun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | present | noun |  |  |  |  | with a capital letter | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with letter=Subeventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
3/4 is a proper fraction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x4:1
# text = 3/4 is a proper fraction.
1	3/4	3/4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	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	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fraction	fraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 3/4 | a proper fraction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the snack we had a proper dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x5:1
# text = After the snack we had a proper dinner.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	snack	snack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | we | a proper dinner |  |  | after the snack |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dinner=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is proper to say thank you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x6:1
# text = It is proper to say thank you.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	thank	thank	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | proper *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **thank** *speech: thank* | infinitive |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the proper tool for the job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x7:1
# text = Use the proper tool for the job.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the proper tool |  |  |  | for the job | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent tool=Theme for job=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That is the proper way to fight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proper:x8:1
# text = That is the proper way to fight.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | the proper way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fight** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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