---
title: schoolboy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «schoolboy» in the school dictionary: A schoolboy is a boy who goes to school. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# schoolboy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** schoolboy, boy, Used schoolboy, schoolboy player, schoolboys, Forgetting · **What happens:** be, go, use, mean, do, have · **To what, where:** boy, school, kind, thing, sport, bus

<!-- .vabout -->
«schoolboy» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [schoolboy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/schoolboy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A schoolboy is a boy who goes to school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:m1:1
# text = A schoolboy is a boy who goes to school.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	schoolboy	schoolboy	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	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a schoolboy | a boy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | a boy |  |  | school |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to school=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Used before another noun, schoolboy means the kind of thing a schoolboy would do or have, often silly or simple: a schoolboy joke, a schoolboy error.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:m2:1
# text = Used before another noun, schoolboy means the kind of thing a schoolboy would do or have, often silly or simple: a schoolboy joke, a schoolboy error.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
2	before	before	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
6	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl:relcl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
29	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	compound	_	_
30	error	error	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  | before another noun |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Used schoolboy | the kind of thing |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | would | a schoolboy | thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **have** | infinitive | a schoolboy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A schoolboy player is a boy who plays a sport for his school or at under-18 level.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:m3:1
# text = A schoolboy player is a boy who plays a sport for his school or at under-18 level.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	under	under	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a schoolboy player | a boy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | a boy | a sport |  |  |  | for boy's school or 18 level | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent sport=Theme for school=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The schoolboy ran to catch the bus with his bag flapping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x1:1
# text = The schoolboy ran to catch the bus with his bag flapping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	flapping	flap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the schoolboy |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | the schoolboy *not said here* | the bus |  |  |  | with schoolboy's bag | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |
| 3 | **flap** | gerund | the schoolboy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old photo, the schoolboys wear shorts and caps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x2:1
# text = In the old photo, the schoolboys wear shorts and caps.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	schoolboys	schoolboy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	shorts	short	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	caps	cap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | the schoolboys | shorts and caps |  | the old photo |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent short=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forgetting to carry the one was a schoolboy error.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x3:1
# text = Forgetting to carry the one was a schoolboy error.
1	Forgetting	forget	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	error	error	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 | **forget** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **carry** | to-infinitive |  | the one |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | past | Forgetting | a schoolboy error |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle still laughs at schoolboy jokes about burps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x4:1
# text = My uncle still laughs at schoolboy jokes about burps.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	laughs	laugh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	burps	burp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | present | My uncle |  |  | schoolboy jokes about burps | still |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He played schoolboy rugby in Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x5:1
# text = He played schoolboy rugby in Ireland.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	rugby	rugby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	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** | past | He | schoolboy rugby |  | Ireland |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rugby=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every schoolboy in the story wanted to find the treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x6:1
# text = Every schoolboy in the story wanted to find the treasure.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | every schoolboy in the story |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | every schoolboy in the story *not said here* | the treasure |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treasure=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The schoolboys lined up in the yard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x7:1
# text = The schoolboys lined up in the yard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	schoolboys	schoolboy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	lined	line	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **line up** | participle |  | the schoolboys *not said here* |  |  |  | in the yard | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in yard=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy--a merry, happy-hearted youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:schoolboy:x8:1
# text = Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy--a merry, happy-hearted youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	mere	mere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	schoolboy	schoolboy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
12	merry	merry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
14	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	hearted	hearted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	youth	youth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
19	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
24	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
26	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	28	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrive** | past |  |  |  | the scene; there | then |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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