---
title: serving — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «serving» in the school dictionary: A serving is an amount of food for one person; a portion. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# serving

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** serving, sports serving, cake recipe, One serving, waiter, 5 servings · **What happens:** be, serve, mean, give, work, describe · **To what, where:** amount, food, people, someone, serving soldier, ball

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A serving is an amount of food for one person; a portion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:m1:1
# text = A serving is an amount of food for one person; a portion.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serving	serving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	portion	portion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a serving | a amount and a portion |  |  |  | of food; for one person | 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 -->
Serving means giving food or drink to people, or working for someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:m2:1
# text = Serving means giving food or drink to people, or working for someone.
1	Serving	serve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **give** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | food or drink | people |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent food=Theme to people=Recipient |
| 4 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for someone | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for someone=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serving can describe someone who is working now in an army, team or job, as in «a serving soldier».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:m3:1
# text = Serving can describe someone who is working now in an army, team or job, as in «a serving soldier».
1	Serving	serve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	amod	_	_
22	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **describe** | can |  | someone |  | a serving soldier |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 3 | **work** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  | now | in a army and team or job | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in army=Theme |
| 4 | **serve** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In sports like tennis, serving is hitting the ball to start a point.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:m4:1
# text = In sports like tennis, serving is hitting the ball to start a point.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	serving	serving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | present · progressive | sports serving | the ball |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme ball=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | sports serving *not said here* | a point |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This cake recipe makes 8 servings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x1:1
# text = This cake recipe makes 8 servings.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	recipe	recipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	servings	serving	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | this cake recipe | 8 servings |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset serving=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One serving of cereal is 30 g.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x2:1
# text = One serving of cereal is 30 g.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	serving	serving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	cereal	cereal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	g.	g.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | One serving of cereal | 30 g. |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waiter is serving the next table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x3:1
# text = The waiter is serving the next table.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waiter	waiter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | present · progressive | the waiter | the next table |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent table=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If one serving needs 2 eggs, 5 servings need 10 eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x4:1
# text = If one serving needs 2 eggs, 5 servings need 10 eggs.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	serving	serving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
5	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	servings	serving	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | one serving | 2 eggs |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot egg=Theme |
| 2 | **need** | present | 5 servings | 10 eggs |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot egg=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is serving for the match in tennis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x5:1
# text = She is serving for the match in tennis.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  | for the match in tennis | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent for match=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa was a serving soldier for many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x6:1
# text = Grandpa was a serving soldier for many years.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Grandpa | a serving soldier |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the serving spoon, please.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x7:1
# text = Pass me the serving spoon, please.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	serving	serving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
7	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	1	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the serving spoon | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient spoon=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only his bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at once.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serving:x8:1
# text = Only his bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at once.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	bride	bride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	acl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	sisters	sister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
14	recognised	recognise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	lover	lover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | past · progressive | his bride |  |  |  |  | as cook; to bride's sisters | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as cook=Attribute |
| 2 | **recognise** | past | his bride | bride's lover |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer lover=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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