---
title: secretary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «secretary» in the school dictionary: A secretary is a person whose job is to help in an office by typing letters, answering the phone, keeping records and arranging meetings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# secretary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** secretary, job, school secretary, I, you, your · **What happens:** be, type, answer, keep, arrange, work · **To what, where:** person, office, letters, phone, records, meetings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«secretary» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [secretary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/secretary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A secretary is a person whose job is to help in an office by typing letters, answering the phone, keeping records and arranging meetings.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:m1:1
# text = A secretary is a person whose job is to help in an office by typing letters, answering the phone, keeping records and arranging meetings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	secretary	secretary	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	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	typing	type	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
16	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	answering	answer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
23	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	arranging	arrange	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	conj	_	_
26	meetings	meeting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	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 secretary | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | job |  |  | a office |  | help *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **type** | gerund | job *not said here* | letters |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |
| 4 | **answer** *speech: assert* | gerund | job *not said here* | the phone |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent phone=Eventuality |
| 5 | **keep** | gerund | job *not said here* | records |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent record=Theme |
| 6 | **arrange** | gerund | job *not said here* | meetings |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meeting=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
The school secretary works in the school office and deals with visitors, absences, lunch money and phone calls.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:m2:1
# text = The school secretary works in the school office and deals with visitors, absences, lunch money and phone calls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	deals	deal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	visitors	visitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	absences	absence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	calls	call	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | the school secretary |  |  |  |  | in the school office | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in office=Theme |
| 2 | **deal** | present | the school secretary *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with visitors and absences and lunch money and phone calls | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with visitor=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Secretary (in government) is the head of a government department, such as the Home Secretary (UK) or the Secretary of State (USA).

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:m3:1
# text = A Secretary (in government) is the head of a government department, such as the Home Secretary (UK) or the Secretary of State (USA).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	department	department	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	Home	Home	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	Secretary	Secretary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
20	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	Secretary	Secretary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	State	State	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
28	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a Secretary | the head |  |  |  | of a government department | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The secretary of a club writes down what happens at meetings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:m4:1
# text = The secretary of a club writes down what happens at meetings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	nsubj	_	_
9	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	meetings	meeting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | present | the secretary of a club |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | present |  |  |  | meetings |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme at meeting=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school secretary phoned my mum when I felt sick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x1:1
# text = The school secretary phoned my mum when I felt sick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	phoned	phone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **phone** | past | the school secretary |  | my mum |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent mum=Recipient |
| 2 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | sick *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hand your letter to the secretary in the office.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x2:1
# text = Hand your letter to the secretary in the office.
1	Hand	hand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | imperative | you *not said here* | your letter |  | the secretary in the office |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent letter=Theme to secretary=Destination |
| 2 | **letter** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Home Secretary spoke on the news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x3:1
# text = The Home Secretary spoke on the news.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Home	Home	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Secretary	Secretary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the Home Secretary |  |  | the news |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt is a secretary at a law firm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x4:1
# text = My aunt is a secretary at a law firm.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	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	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	firm	firm	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 a** | present | My aunt | a secretary |  | a law firm |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our club voted Maya as secretary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x5:1
# text = Our club voted Maya as secretary.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	voted	vote	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | past | Our club | Maya |  |  |  | as secretary | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent maya=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The secretary wrote down what was said at the meeting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x6:1
# text = The secretary wrote down what was said at the meeting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	secretary	secretary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | past | the secretary |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · passive |  |  |  | the meeting |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Secretary of State visited Canada.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:secretary:x7:1
# text = The Secretary of State visited Canada.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Secretary	Secretary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	State	State	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | the Secretary of State | Canada |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent canada=Co-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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