---
title: townspeople — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «townspeople» in the school dictionary: The people who live in a town, especially when thought of all together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# townspeople

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, townspeople, flood, hero, He · **What happens:** live, think, gather, hear, not pay, come out · **To what, where:** town, square, news, Piper, parade, townspeople

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people who live in a town, especially when thought of all together.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:m1:1
# text = The people who live in a town, especially when thought of all together.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	obl	_	_
14	together	together	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | the people |  |  | a town |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in town=Location |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of all; especially, together *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The townspeople gathered in the square to hear the news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x1:1
# text = The townspeople gathered in the square to hear the news.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gathered	gather	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gather** | past | the townspeople |  |  | the square |  |  | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive | the townspeople *not said here* | the news |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer news=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The townspeople of Hamelin would not pay the Piper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x2:1
# text = The townspeople of Hamelin would not pay the Piper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Hamelin	Hamelin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Piper	piper	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 | **not** **pay** | would | the townspeople of Hamelin | the Piper |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piper=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All the townspeople came out to watch the parade.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x3:1
# text = All the townspeople came out to watch the parade.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	parade	parade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come out** | past | all townspeople |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive | all townspeople *not said here* | the parade |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent parade=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flood forced the townspeople to leave their homes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x4:1
# text = The flood forced the townspeople to leave their homes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	forced	force	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	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	homes	home	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | past | the flood | the townspeople |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent townspeople=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | the townspeople *not said here* | their homes |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Middle Ages, townspeople paid taxes to the lord.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x5:1
# text = In the Middle Ages, townspeople paid taxes to the lord.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Middle	Middle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	_
4	Ages	Age	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | townspeople | taxes |  |  | in the Middle Ages | to the lord | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tax=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The townspeople cheered when the hero returned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x6:1
# text = The townspeople cheered when the hero returned.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cheered	cheer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	returned	return	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheer** | past | the townspeople |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **return** | past | the hero |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He drove by the town, but the townspeople had met together and had been looking out for him for ever so long.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:townspeople:x7:1
# text = He drove by the town, but the townspeople had met together and had been looking out for him for ever so long.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	met	meet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
12	together	together	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	16	aux	_	_
16	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obl	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	23	advmod	_	_
22	so	so	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drive** | past | He |  |  |  |  | by the town | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **meet** | past · perfect | the townspeople |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **look out** | past · perfect · progressive | the townspeople *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for townspeople | vn caring-75.2-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent for he=Theme |

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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.

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