instruct
part of speech
verb (instruct, instructs, instructed, instructing)
meaning for a pupil
1) To instruct someone is to tell them what they must do, especially officially or with authority. tree →
2) To instruct someone is to teach them a skill. tree →
3) (law, UK) To instruct a lawyer is to hire them to work for you. tree →
sense in the lessons
In school, teachers instruct pupils and test papers instruct: «You are instructed to answer all questions». In safety, firefighters instruct people where to go. Instructions in maths tell you the steps to follow. Phrases: instruct someone to do, instruct someone in, as instructed.
examples
- The teacher instructed us to line up quietly. tree →
- The coach instructed the team in how to pass the ball. tree →
- Follow the steps as instructed. tree →
- The pilot instructed passengers to fasten their seat belts. tree →
- Firefighters instructed everyone to leave the building. tree →
- She instructs children in swimming at the local pool. tree →
- The recipe instructs you to bake the cake for 30 minutes. tree →
- Then her aunt instructed her what to do. tree →
note
Regular verb: instructed. Nouns: instruction (what to do), instructor (a teacher of a skill). «Instruct someone to do something». Formal; in speech say «tell» or «teach».
In the corpora
- And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
- For He doth instruct him aright; his God doth teach him.
- Or who was His counsellor that he might instruct Him?
- But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the vanities by which they are instructed are but a stock;
- I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel; yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «instruct» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.