---
title: afloat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «afloat» in the school dictionary: Afloat means floating on water, not sinking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# afloat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Afloat, person, cork, life jacket, We, toy duck · **What happens:** mean, float, not sink, stay, have, keep · **To what, where:** water, boat, enough money, bowl, you, leaky boat

<!-- .vabout -->
«afloat» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [afloat in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/afloat.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Afloat means floating on water, not sinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:m1:1
# text = Afloat means floating on water, not sinking.
1	Afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	floating	float	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	sinking	sink	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Afloat |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **float** *not said to happen* | gerund | Afloat *not said here* |  |  | water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on water=Trajectory |
| 3 | **not** **sink** | gerund | Afloat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Afloat means on a boat or ship at sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:m2:1
# text = Afloat means on a boat or ship at sea.
1	Afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Afloat |  |  | a boat or ship at sea |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a person or business stays afloat, they have just enough money to keep going and not fail.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:m3:1
# text = If a person or business stays afloat, they have just enough money to keep going and not fail.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
7	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
16	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	xcomp	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	fail	fail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a person or business |  |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | person | enough money |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |
| 3 | **keep** | to-infinitive | person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **go** | gerund | person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **fail** | infinitive | person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cork stayed afloat in the bowl of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x1:1
# text = The cork stayed afloat in the bowl of water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cork	cork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	afloat	afloat	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | the cork |  |  | the bowl of water |  | afloat *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in bowl=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A life jacket keeps you afloat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x2:1
# text = A life jacket keeps you afloat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	jacket	jacket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | a life jacket | you |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tried to keep the leaky boat afloat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x3:1
# text = We tried to keep the leaky boat afloat.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	leaky	leaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the leaky boat |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toy duck was afloat in the bath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x4:1
# text = The toy duck was afloat in the bath.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bath	bath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the toy duck |  |  | the bath |  | afloat *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The raft stayed afloat even with three children on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x5:1
# text = The raft stayed afloat even with three children on it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	raft	raft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	afloat	afloat	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	even	even	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | the raft |  |  |  |  | with three children on it; afloat *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with child=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle spent months afloat on a fishing boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x6:1
# text = My uncle spent months afloat on a fishing boat.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | My uncle |  |  |  | month | on a fishing boat *goal*; afloat *property* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent on boat=Goal |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little shop is struggling to stay afloat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x7:1
# text = The little shop is struggling to stay afloat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	struggling	struggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **struggle** | present · progressive | the little shop |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive | the little shop *not said here* |  |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to float on your back to stay afloat if you fall in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x8:1
# text = Try to float on your back to stay afloat if you fall in.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	float	float	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	fall	fall	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
13	in	in	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **float** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  | your back |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on back=Trajectory |
| 3 | **stay** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **fall in** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
While he was thus struggling to keep himself afloat, he saw a monstrous shark swimming towards him.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:afloat:x9:1
# text = While he was thus struggling to keep himself afloat, he saw a monstrous shark swimming towards him.
1	While	while	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	struggling	struggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obj	_	_
9	afloat	afloat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	monstrous	monstrous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **struggle** | past · progressive | he |  |  |  |  | thus *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | himself *= he* |  |  |  | afloat *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent himself=Theme |
| 3 | **see** | past | he | a monstrous shark |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer shark=Stimulus |
| 4 | **swim** | gerund | a monstrous shark *not said here* |  |  |  |  | towards him *= he* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme towards he=Destination |

<!-- 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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