---
title: ballpoint — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ballpoint» in the school dictionary: A pen with a tiny metal ball at its tip that rolls and spreads ink as you write; also called a ballpoint pen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/ballpoint/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / ballpoint

# ballpoint

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tip, you, pen, I, ballpoint pen, my · **What happens:** roll, spread, write, call, borrow, run · **To what, where:** ink, ballpoint pen, blue ballpoint, answer, ballpoint, pencil case · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pen with a tiny metal ball at its tip that rolls and spreads ink as you write; also called a ballpoint pen.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:m1:1
# text = A pen with a tiny metal ball at its tip that rolls and spreads ink as you write; also called a ballpoint pen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	rolls	roll	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
15	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	also	also	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | present | ball's tip |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **spread** | present | ball's tip *not said here* | ink |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location ink=Theme |
| 3 | **write** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **call** | participle | a pen with a tiny metal ball at ball's tip *not said here* | a ballpoint pen |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of this kind of pen: «ballpoint ink».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:m2:1
# text = Of this kind of pen: «ballpoint ink».
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I borrow a blue ballpoint?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x1:1
# text = Can I borrow a blue ballpoint?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	borrow	borrow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **borrow** | can | I | a blue ballpoint |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ballpoint=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ballpoint pen ran out of ink in the middle of my test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x2:1
# text = The ballpoint pen ran out of ink in the middle of my test.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the ballpoint pen |  |  | ink |  | in the middle of my test | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out ink=Trajectory |
| 2 | **test** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ballpoint ink dries quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x3:1
# text = Ballpoint ink dries quickly.
1	Ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dries	dry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dry** | present | Ballpoint ink |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write your answer in ballpoint, not pencil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x4:1
# text = Write your answer in ballpoint, not pencil.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | your answer |  | ballpoint |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent answer=Theme in ballpoint=Destination |
| 2 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tiny ball in a ballpoint rolls as you write.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x5:1
# text = The tiny ball in a ballpoint rolls as you write.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	rolls	roll	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | present | the tiny ball in a ballpoint |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **write** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My ballpoint leaked in my pencil case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballpoint:x6:1
# text = My ballpoint leaked in my pencil case.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ballpoint	ballpoint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	leaked	leak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leak** | participle |  | My ballpoint *not said here* |  | my pencil case |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [ballot](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/ballot/)
- next →: [ballroom](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/ballroom/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)