---
title: sonny — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sonny» in the school dictionary: A friendly or slightly bossy way an older person speaks to a boy or young man: «Listen, sonny». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sonny

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** friendly way, Sonny, you, old fisherman, change, your · **What happens:** speak, listen, be, go, mind, not talk back · **To what, where:** sonny, nickname, road, rod, Grandad, name · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A friendly or slightly bossy way an older person speaks to a boy or young man: «Listen, sonny».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:m1:1
# text = A friendly or slightly bossy way an older person speaks to a boy or young man: «Listen, sonny».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | a friendly way |  |  |  |  | to a boy or young man | tree rules |
| 2 | **listen** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | sonny |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sonny is also a nickname or first name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:m2:1
# text = Sonny is also a nickname or first name.
1	Sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	nickname	nickname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sonny | a nickname or first name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Off you go, sonny, and mind the road."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x1:1
# text = "Off you go, sonny, and mind the road."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Off	off	ADP	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	mind	mind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** *in a quote* | present | you | sonny |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mind** *in a quote* | infinitive | you *not said here* | the road |  |  |  |  | vn caring-75.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Don't you talk back to me, sonny!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x2:1
# text = "Don't you talk back to me, sonny!"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **talk back** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support | you | sonny |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old fisherman said, "Want to hold the rod, sonny?"

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x3:1
# text = The old fisherman said, "Want to hold the rod, sonny?"
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fisherman	fisherman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rod	rod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | the old fisherman |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **want** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **hold** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive |  | the rod |  |  |  | sonny *obl* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rod=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Sit down, Sonny Jim," laughed Grandad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x4:1
# text = "Sit down, Sonny Jim," laughed Grandad.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	Sonny	Sonny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Jim	Jim	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	_
9	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | Sonny Jim *vocative* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | you *not said here* | Grandad |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandad=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sonny is the name of the dog next door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x5:1
# text = Sonny is the name of the dog next door.
1	Sonny	Sonny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sonny | the name |  |  |  | of next door | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Here's your change, sonny," said the man at the market stall.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x6:1
# text = "Here's your change, sonny," said the man at the market stall.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	stall	stall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | your change and sonny | the man |  | the market stall |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent man=Topic |
| 3 | **change** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom change «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Look here, sonny: if we share this cake we shall neither of us have enough.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonny:x7:1
# text = ‘Look here, sonny: if we share this cake we shall neither of us have enough.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	sonny	sonny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
13	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
14	neither	neither	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	17	nsubj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	_
17	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
18	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* | sonny |  | here |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **share** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | we | this cake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** | shall | we | enough |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=Patient |

<!-- 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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