---
title: abacus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abacus» in the school dictionary: An abacus is a frame with rows of beads that slide along wires or rods, used for counting and doing sums. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abacus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** abacus, beads, We, top row, bottom row, children · **What happens:** be, slide, use, do, add, show · **To what, where:** frame, wires, sums, flat slab, buildings, abacus

<!-- .vabout -->
«abacus» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [abacus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abacus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An abacus is a frame with rows of beads that slide along wires or rods, used for counting and doing sums.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:m1:1
# text = An abacus is a frame with rows of beads that slide along wires or rods, used for counting and doing sums.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	abacus	abacus	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	frame	frame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	beads	bead	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	slide	slide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	along	along	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	rods	rod	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	counting	counting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	conj	_	_
22	sums	sum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a abacus | a frame |  |  |  | with rows of beads | tree rules |
| 2 | **slide** | present | beads |  |  | wires or rods |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along wire=Trajectory |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | wires or rods *not said here* |  |  |  | for counting | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  | sums |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sum=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
In buildings, an abacus is the flat slab on top of a column (architecture word).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:m2:1
# text = In buildings, an abacus is the flat slab on top of a column (architecture word).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	column	column	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	architecture	architecture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a abacus | the flat slab |  | buildings |  | on top of a column | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used an abacus to add 27 and 15.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x1:1
# text = We used an abacus to add 27 and 15.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	27	27	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a abacus |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent abacus=Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | 27 |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 27=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the abacus, the top row shows hundreds and the bottom row shows ones.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x2:1
# text = On the abacus, the top row shows hundreds and the bottom row shows ones.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	bottom	bottom	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
15	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the top row | hundreds |  | the abacus |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent hundred=Recipient |
| 2 | **show** | present | the bottom row | ones |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent one=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some children in Japan learn very fast mental maths with a soroban abacus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x3:1
# text = Some children in Japan learn very fast mental maths with a soroban abacus.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
8	mental	mental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	soroban	soroban	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | some children in Japan | mental maths |  |  |  | with a soroban abacus | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent math=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The abacus was used long before calculators.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x4:1
# text = The abacus was used long before calculators.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	calculators	calculator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | the abacus |  |  | before calculators | long *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Move three beads to the left to add three.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x5:1
# text = Move three beads to the left to add three.
1	Move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	beads	bead	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	left	left	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | imperative | you *not said here* | three beads |  | the left |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent bead=Theme to left=Trajectory |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | three |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent three=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother counts the coloured beads on his toy abacus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abacus:x6:1
# text = My little brother counts the coloured beads on his toy abacus.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	counts	count	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	beads	bead	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | present | My little brother | the coloured beads |  | brother's toy abacus |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bead=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.

<!-- /div -->

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