---
title: sergeant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sergeant» in the school dictionary: A soldier of middle rank, above a corporal, who is in charge of a group of soldiers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sergeant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** corporal, sergeant, grandad, police sergeant, major cried mercy, he · **What happens:** be, shout, leave, have, ask, come · **To what, where:** charge, sergeant, army, three stripes, sleeve, witness · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A soldier of middle rank, above a corporal, who is in charge of a group of soldiers.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:m1:1
# text = A soldier of middle rank, above a corporal, who is in charge of a group of soldiers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	middle	middle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	corporal	corporal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a corporal |  |  | charge |  | of a group of soldiers | tree rules |

<!-- .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 police officer of the rank above a constable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:m2:1
# text = A police officer of the rank above a constable.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	constable	constable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sergeant Major, Sergeant at Arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:m3:1
# text = Sergeant Major, Sergeant at Arms.
1	Sergeant	Sergeant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	Major	Major	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sergeant shouted, «Left, right, left, right!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x1:1
# text = The sergeant shouted, «Left, right, left, right!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Left	left	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	right	right	INTJ	UH	_	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	right	right	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the sergeant |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **leave** *in a quote* | participle | the sergeant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | right *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sergeant Jones is in charge of the local police station.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x2:1
# text = Sergeant Jones is in charge of the local police station.
1	Sergeant	Sergeant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Sergeant |  |  | charge |  | of the local police station | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandad was a sergeant in the army.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x3:1
# text = My grandad was a sergeant in the army.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | My grandad | a sergeant |  | the army |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sergeant has three stripes on his sleeve.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x4:1
# text = The sergeant has three stripes on his sleeve.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sleeve	sleeve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the sergeant | three stripes |  | sergeant's sleeve |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stripe=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sergeant asked the witness some questions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x5:1
# text = The sergeant asked the witness some questions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	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	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the sergeant | the witness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A police sergeant came to talk to our class about road safety.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x6:1
# text = A police sergeant came to talk to our class about road safety.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a police sergeant |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive | a police sergeant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to our class about road safety | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to class=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sergeant-major cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and did not deserve this disgrace.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sergeant:x7:1
# text = A sergeant-major cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and did not deserve this disgrace.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	sergeant	sergeant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	cried	cry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	mercy	mercy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	wounds	wound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	fellow	fellow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
24	deserve	deserve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
25	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	26	det	_	_
26	disgrace	disgrace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a major cried mercy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** | past | he | nine wounds |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wound=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | past |  | a brave fellow |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **deserve** | past · do-support | he *not said here* | this disgrace |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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