---
title: sleeper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sleeper» in the school dictionary: A person or animal who is asleep, or who sleeps in a certain way: a light sleeper. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sleeper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, small earring, Dad, nothing, We, Railway sleepers · **What happens:** be, sleep, keep, pierce, become, wake · **To what, where:** certain way, pierced ear, hit, heavy sleeper, him, sleeper train

<!-- .vabout -->
«sleeper» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [sleeper in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sleeper.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or animal who is asleep, or who sleeps in a certain way: a light sleeper.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:m1:1
# text = A person or animal who is asleep, or who sleeps in a certain way: a light sleeper.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
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	cop	_	_
7	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	sleeps	sleep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person or animal |  |  |  |  | asleep *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sleep** | present |  |  |  | a certain way and a light sleeper |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in way=Location |

<!-- .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 train with beds, or a bed on such a train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:m2:1
# text = A train with beds, or a bed on such a train.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	beds	bed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	12	det:predet	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Australia — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy wooden or concrete beam under railway tracks (US: tie).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:m3:1
# text = A heavy wooden or concrete beam under railway tracks (US: tie).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	concrete	concrete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tracks	track	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	tie	tie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small earring that keeps a pierced ear open.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:m4:1
# text = A small earring that keeps a pierced ear open.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	earring	earring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	pierced	pierce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | a small earring | a pierced ear |  |  |  | open *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Theme |
| 2 | **pierce** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that becomes a hit slowly; a hidden spy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:m5:1
# text = Something that becomes a hit slowly; a hidden spy.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hit	hit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | present |  | a hit |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is a heavy sleeper; nothing wakes him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x1:1
# text = Dad is a heavy sleeper; nothing wakes him.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	_
8	wakes	wake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Dad | a heavy sleeper |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wake** | present | nothing | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent he=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We took the sleeper train to Scotland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x2:1
# text = We took the sleeper train to Scotland.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | We | the sleeper train | Scotland |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent train=Theme to scotland=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Railway sleepers hold the tracks in place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x3:1
# text = Railway sleepers hold the tracks in place.
1	Railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	sleepers	sleeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tracks	track	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | Railway sleepers | the tracks |  | place |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent track=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm a light sleeper, so I need quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x4:1
# text = I'm a light sleeper, so I need quiet.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	quiet	quiet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | a light sleeper |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | I | quiet |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot quiet=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sleeper hit became famous a year later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x5:1
# text = The sleeper hit became famous a year later.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | the sleeper |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **become** | past | the sleeper *not said here* |  |  |  |  | famous *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wears tiny gold sleepers in her ears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x6:1
# text = She wears tiny gold sleepers in her ears.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wears	wear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	sleepers	sleeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | She | tiny gold sleepers |  | her ears |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent sleeper=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But generally he sucks the blood of sleepers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleeper:x7:1
# text = But generally he sucks the blood of sleepers.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	generally	generally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sucks	suck	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sleepers	sleeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suck** | present | he | the blood of sleepers |  |  |  | generally *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent blood=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 -->
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