---
title: sir — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sir» in the school dictionary: A polite way to speak to a man whose name you do not know, or to a man in charge. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sir

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, man, pupils, Sir, I, Sir Isaac · **What happens:** speak, not know, name, call, be, help · **To what, where:** name, male teacher, UK, title, you, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A polite way to speak to a man whose name you do not know, or to a man in charge.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:m1:1
# text = A polite way to speak to a man whose name you do not know, or to a man in charge.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to a man  a man  a man's name or a man in charge's name or a man in charge | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to man=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **not** **know** | present · do-support | you | a man  a man  name or a man's name or a man in charge's name *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer name=Stimulus |
| 3 | **name** |  | a man  a man  name or a man in charge's name or a man in charge |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Can I help you, sir?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:m1e:1
# text = "Can I help you, sir?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** *in a quote* | can | I |  | you |  |  | sir *vocative* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the UK and Ireland, what pupils call a male teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:m2:1
# text = In the UK and Ireland, what pupils call a male teacher.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | pupils | a male teacher |  | the UK and Ireland |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme teacher=Result |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Sir" with a capital S is a title for a knight in the UK.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:m3:1
# text = "Sir" with a capital S is a title for a knight in the UK.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	S	s	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sir with a capital S | a title |  |  |  | for a knight in the UK | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Sir Isaac Newton".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:m3e:1
# text = "Sir Isaac Newton".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	Isaac	Isaac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Newton	Newton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Excuse me, sir, you dropped your glove.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x1:1
# text = Excuse me, sir, you dropped your glove.
1	Excuse	excuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	glove	glove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excuse** | imperative | you *not said here* | me |  |  |  | sir *vocative* | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **drop** | past | you | your glove |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent glove=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please, sir, may I go to the toilet?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x2:1
# text = Please, sir, may I go to the toilet?
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
5	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | may | I |  |  | the toilet |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to toilet=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sir Isaac Newton was a famous scientist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x3:1
# text = Sir Isaac Newton was a famous scientist.
1	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Isaac	Isaac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	Newton	Newton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Sir Isaac | a famous scientist |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Yes, sir!" said the soldier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x4:1
# text = "Yes, sir!" said the soldier.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the soldier |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waiter asked, "Would you like water, sir?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x5:1
# text = The waiter asked, "Would you like water, sir?"
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waiter	waiter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the waiter |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **like** *in a quote* | would | you | water and sir |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot water=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class calls Mr Brown "Sir".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x6:1
# text = Our class calls Mr Brown "Sir".
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	Brown	Brown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | Our class |  | Mr |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent mr=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letters used to begin "Dear Sir".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x7:1
# text = Letters used to begin "Dear Sir".
1	Letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Letters |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **begin** | to-infinitive | Letters *not said here* | Dear Sir |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sir=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sir:x8:1
# text = "No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	_
10	returned	return	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	Aladdin	Aladdin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **return** | past | sir and design | Aladdin |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent aladdin=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [siphonophore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/siphonophore/)
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