---
title: ballast — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ballast» in the school dictionary: Heavy material, such as stones, sand or water, put low in a ship or balloon to keep it steady. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ballast

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Heavy material, stones, ship, submarine, balloonist, balloon · **What happens:** put, keep, lay, hold, give, carry · **To what, where:** ship, balloon, railway tracks, stones, place, steadiness

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heavy material, such as stones, sand or water, put low in a ship or balloon to keep it steady.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:m1:1
# text = Heavy material, such as stones, sand or water, put low in a ship or balloon to keep it steady.
1	Heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	low	low	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | infinitive | Heavy material and stones and sand or water |  |  | a ship or balloon |  | low *property* | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in ship=Destination |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Heavy material and stones and sand or water *not said here* | balloon |  |  |  | steady *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stones laid under railway tracks to hold them in place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:m2:1
# text = The stones laid under railway tracks to hold them in place.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laid	lay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tracks	track	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | participle | the stones |  |  | railway tracks |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent under track=Destination |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive | the stones *not said here* | stones *= stone* |  | place |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent they=Theme in place=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that gives steadiness or balance to a person or plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:m3:1
# text = Something that gives steadiness or balance to a person or plan.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	steadiness	steadiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present |  | steadiness or balance | a person or plan |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent steadiness=Theme to person=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship carried rocks as ballast to stop it rolling over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x1:1
# text = The ship carried rocks as ballast to stop it rolling over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
11	over	over	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | the ship | rocks |  |  |  | as ballast | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rock=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | the ship *not said here* | ship |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **roll over** | gerund | the ship *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The submarine filled its ballast tanks with water to dive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x2:1
# text = The submarine filled its ballast tanks with water to dive.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	submarine	submarine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	filled	fill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tanks	tank	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	dive	dive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | past | the submarine | submarine's ballast tanks |  |  |  | with water | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent tank=Patient with water=Instrument |
| 2 | **dive** | to-infinitive | the submarine *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The balloonist threw out a bag of sand ballast and the balloon rose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x3:1
# text = The balloonist threw out a bag of sand ballast and the balloon rose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	balloonist	balloonist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw out** | past | the balloonist | a bag of sand ballast |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |
| 2 | **rise** | past | the balloon |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grey ballast stones lie under the railway sleepers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x4:1
# text = Grey ballast stones lie under the railway sleepers.
1	Grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lie	lie	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	sleepers	sleeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | Grey ballast stones |  |  | the railway sleepers |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under sleeper=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We added coins to the bottom of our model boat as ballast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x5:1
# text = We added coins to the bottom of our model boat as ballast.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | We | coins |  |  |  | to the bottom of our model boat as ballast | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent coin=Patient to bottom=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weight low down acts as ballast and keeps the boat steady.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballast:x6:1
# text = Weight low down acts as ballast and keeps the boat steady.
1	Weight	weight	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	low	low	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ballast	ballast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as ballast; down *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as ballast=Attribute |
| 2 | **keep** | present |  | the boat |  |  |  | steady *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=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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