---
title: shearer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shearer» in the school dictionary: A shearer is a person whose job is to cut the wool off sheep. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shearer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** shearer, job, person, Shearers, gun shearer, back · **What happens:** be, shear, cut, clip off, travel, ache · **To what, where:** person, fleece, one piece, station, 200 sheep, shearer

<!-- .vabout -->
«shearer» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [shearer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shearer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shearer is a person whose job is to cut the wool off sheep.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:m1:1
# text = A shearer is a person whose job is to cut the wool off sheep.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shearer	shearer	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	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	off	off	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
14	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shearer | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | job |  |  |  |  | cut *property* | 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 shearer can be any person or machine that shears or cuts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:m2:1
# text = A shearer can be any person or machine that shears or cuts.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	shears	shear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	cuts	cut	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a shearer | any person or machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shear** | present | any person or machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cut** | present | any person or machine *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shearer clipped the fleece off in one piece.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x1:1
# text = The shearer clipped the fleece off in one piece.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clipped	clip	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	fleece	fleece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clip off** | past | the shearer | the fleece |  | one piece |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fleece=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shearers travel from station to station in the spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x2:1
# text = Shearers travel from station to station in the spring.
1	Shearers	shearer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travel	travel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | present | Shearers |  |  | station | spring | to station | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to station=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gun shearer can shear over 200 sheep a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x3:1
# text = A gun shearer can shear over 200 sheep a day.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	shear	shear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | can | a gun shearer | 200 sheep |  |  | day |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent sheep=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shearer's back aches after a long day in the woolshed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x4:1
# text = The shearer's back aches after a long day in the woolshed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	aches	ache	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	woolshed	woolshed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ache** | present | the shearer's back |  |  |  | day |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle is a shearer in New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x5:1
# text = My uncle is a shearer in New Zealand.
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	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	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
8	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	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** | present | My uncle | a shearer |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shearing doesn't hurt the sheep, like a haircut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x6:1
# text = Shearing doesn't hurt the sheep, like a haircut.
1	Shearing	shearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **hurt** | present · do-support | Shearing | the sheep |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sheep=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If one shearer takes 4 minutes per sheep, how many can she shear in an hour? 15.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* If one shearer takes 4 minutes per sheep, how many can she shear in an hour?

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x7:1
# text = If one shearer takes 4 minutes per sheep, how many can she shear in an hour?
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	shearer	shearer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
5	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	per	per	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	shear	shear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | one shearer |  |  |  | minute |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **shear** | can | shearer | many |  |  | hour |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent many=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* 15.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shearer:x7:2
# text = 15.
1	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

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**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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