---
title: truant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «truant» in the school dictionary: A truant is a pupil who stays away from school without permission. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# truant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** truant, pupil, idler, his, Tom, register · **What happens:** be, stay away, wander, shirk, work, play · **To what, where:** pupil, school, idler, work, truant, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«truant» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [truant in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/truant.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A truant is a pupil who stays away from school without permission.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:m1:1
# text = A truant is a pupil who stays away from school without permission.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	truant	truant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	without	without	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a truant | a pupil |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay away** | present | a pupil |  |  | school |  | without permission; away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A truant is an idler who wanders about and shirks his work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:m2:1
# text = A truant is an idler who wanders about and shirks his work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	truant	truant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idler	idler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	wanders	wander	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	about	about	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	shirks	shirk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a truant | a idler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wander** | present | a idler |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **shirk** | present | a idler *not said here* | his work |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **work** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To play truant means to stay away from school on purpose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:m3:1
# text = To play truant means to stay away from school on purpose.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	truant	truant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | to-infinitive |  | truant |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truant=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stay away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | school |  | on purpose; away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on purpose=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom played truant and spent the day at the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:x1:1
# text = Tom played truant and spent the day at the beach.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	truant	truant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | Tom | truant |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truant=Theme |
| 2 | **spend** | past | Tom *not said here* |  |  | the beach | day |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The register showed two truants on Monday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:x2:1
# text = The register showed two truants on Monday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	register	register	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	truants	truant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	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 | **show** | past | the register | two truants |  |  | monday |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truant=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old tale calls the boy a truant and a vagabond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:x3:1
# text = The old tale calls the boy a truant and a vagabond.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	calls	call	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	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	truant	truant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	vagabond	vagabond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Though he had played truant so often, he still knew a few things.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:x4:1
# text = Though he had played truant so often, he still knew a few things.
1	Though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
5	truant	truant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	still	still	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past · perfect | he |  |  |  |  | often, truant *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **know** | past | he | a few things |  |  | still |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer thing=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister never plays truant; she loves school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:truant:x5:1
# text = My sister never plays truant; she loves school.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	truant	truant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **play** | present | My sister |  |  |  |  | truant *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **love** | present | sister | school |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer school=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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