---
title: robot — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «robot» in the school dictionary: A robot is a machine that can do jobs by itself, following a program; some move and act like a person or an animal. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# robot

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** robot, machine, some, person, club, many toys · **What happens:** be, do, follow, move, act, mean · **To what, where:** machine, jobs, program, person, traffic light, South Africa

<!-- .vabout -->
«robot» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [robot in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/robot.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A robot is a machine that can do jobs by itself, following a program; some move and act like a person or an animal.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:m1:1
# text = A robot is a machine that can do jobs by itself, following a program; some move and act like a person or an animal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	nsubj	_	_
18	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	act	act	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a robot | a machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | can | a machine | jobs |  |  |  | by robot | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **follow** | gerund | a machine *not said here* | a program |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent program=Theme |
| 4 | **move** | present | some |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **act** | present | some *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a person or a animal | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like person=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
A robot can also mean a person who acts without feeling or thinking, like a machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:m2:1
# text = A robot can also mean a person who acts without feeling or thinking, like a machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | a robot | a person |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Topic |
| 2 | **act** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **feel** | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a machine | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like machine=Theme |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In South Africa, a robot is a traffic light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:m3:1
# text = In South Africa, a robot is a traffic light.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	light	light	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** | present | a robot | a traffic light |  | South Africa |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A robot makes 12 toys an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x1:1
# text = A robot makes 12 toys an hour.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a robot | 12 toys |  |  | hour |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset toy=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The club built 4 robots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x2:1
# text = The club built 4 robots.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	robots	robot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the club | 4 robots |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset robot=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each robot needs 6 batteries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x3:1
# text = Each robot needs 6 batteries.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | each robot | 6 batteries |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot battery=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many toys do 3 robots make in 5 hours?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x4:1
# text = How many toys do 3 robots make in 5 hours?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	robots	robot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | many toys |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | 3 robots |  |  |  | hour |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We programmed a small robot to move in a square.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x5:1
# text = We programmed a small robot to move in a square.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	programmed	program	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **program** | past | We | a small robot |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  | a square |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in square=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A robot rover explores the surface of Mars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x6:1
# text = A robot rover explores the surface of Mars.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	rover	rover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	explores	explore	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Mars	Mars	PROPN	NNP	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 | **explore** | present | a robot rover | the surface of Mars |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent surface=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Robots build cars in big factories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x7:1
# text = Robots build cars in big factories.
1	Robots	robot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	factories	factory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | Robots | cars |  | big factories |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset car=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our robot vacuum cleans the floor by itself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x8:1
# text = Our robot vacuum cleans the floor by itself.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	vacuum	vacuum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cleans	clean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | present | Our robot vacuum | the floor |  |  |  | by vacuum | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent floor=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the film, the robot learns to make friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:robot:x9:1
# text = In the film, the robot learns to make friends.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	learns	learn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | the robot |  |  | the film |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the robot *not said here* | friends |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset friend=Product |

<!-- 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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