---
title: steer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «steer» in the school dictionary: To steer is to control which way a car, bike, boat or other vehicle goes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steer/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / steer

# steer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** car, steer, you, Dad, captain, dog · **What happens:** steer, be, go, keep, bite, steer back · **To what, where:** way, young male cow, piece, bike, puddle, car

<!-- .vabout -->
«steer» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [steer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/steer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To steer is to control which way a car, bike, boat or other vehicle goes.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:m1:1
# text = To steer is to control which way a car, bike, boat or other vehicle goes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	7	det	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	vehicle	vehicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | which way *obl:unmarked*; control *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | present | a car and bike and boat or other vehicle | which way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location way=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
To steer is also to guide a person or a talk in a certain direction.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:m2:1
# text = To steer is also to guide a person or a talk in a certain direction.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	guide	guide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	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	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | guide *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steer is a young male cow kept for meat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:m3:1
# text = A steer is a young male cow kept for meat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steer	steer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steer | a young male cow |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  | a young male cow *not said here* |  |  |  | for meat | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steer (informal) is a piece of advice or a hint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:m4:1
# text = A steer (informal) is a piece of advice or a hint.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steer	steer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	hint	hint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steer | a piece |  |  |  | of advice or a hint | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steer your bike around the puddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x1:1
# text = Steer your bike around the puddle.
1	Steer	steer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puddle	puddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | imperative | you *not said here* | your bike |  | the puddle |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bike=Theme around puddle=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad steered the car into the parking space.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x2:1
# text = Dad steered the car into the parking space.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	steered	steer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	parking	parking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	space	space	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | past | Dad | the car |  | the parking space |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent car=Theme into space=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The captain steered the ship into the harbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x3:1
# text = The captain steered the ship into the harbour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	steered	steer	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	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | past | the captain | the ship |  | the harbour |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent ship=Theme into harbour=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steer clear of that dog; it bites.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x4:1
# text = Steer clear of that dog; it bites.
1	Steer	steer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	bites	bite	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **bite** | present | dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher steered the talk back to maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x5:1
# text = The teacher steered the talk back to maths.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	steered	steer	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	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer back** | past | the teacher | the talk |  | maths |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent talk=Theme to math=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer sold three steers at the market.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x6:1
# text = The farmer sold three steers at the market.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	steers	steer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | the farmer | three steers |  | the market |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent steer=Theme at market=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the handlebars with both hands so you can steer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x7:1
# text = Hold the handlebars with both hands so you can steer.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	handlebars	handlebar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the handlebars |  |  |  | with both hands | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent handlebar=Theme |
| 2 | **steer** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She steered her little brother away from the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x8:1
# text = She steered her little brother away from the road.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	steered	steer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steer** | past | She | her little brother |  |  |  | away *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brother=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steer:x9:1
# text = So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ordered	order	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	boatman	boatman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	steer	steer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	Squirrel	Squirrel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Island	Island	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | she | the old boatman |  |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent boatman=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **steer** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the old boatman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for Squirrel Island | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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: [steepness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steepness/)
- next →: [steersman](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/steersman/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)