---
title: barrier — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «barrier» in the school dictionary: A barrier is a fence, gate, wall or bar that stops people or things from going somewhere. 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/barrier/)

<!-- 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/) / barrier

# barrier

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** barrier, bar, something, you, train, Police · **What happens:** be, stop, go, make, do, not climb · **To what, where:** fence, people, anything, something, safety barrier, barriers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«barrier» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [barrier in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/barrier.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A barrier is a fence, gate, wall or bar that stops people or things from going somewhere.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:m1:1
# text = A barrier is a fence, gate, wall or bar that stops people or things from going somewhere.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrier	barrier	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	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
19	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a barrier | a fence and gate |  |  |  | wall or bar *nmod* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | present | bar | people or things |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality people=Eventuality |
| 3 | **go** | gerund | bar *not said here* |  |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
A barrier can also be anything that makes something hard to do, like a language barrier.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:m2:1
# text = A barrier can also be anything that makes something hard to do, like a language barrier.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a barrier | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | something |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a language barrier | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never climb over the safety barrier at the cliff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x1:1
# text = Never climb over the safety barrier at the cliff.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	climb	climb	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **climb** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the safety barrier |  | at the cliff | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over barrier=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barrier came down because a train was coming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x2:1
# text = The barrier came down because a train was coming.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come down** | past | the barrier |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past · progressive | a train |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police put up barriers to keep the crowd back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x3:1
# text = Police put up barriers to keep the crowd back.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	barriers	barrier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put up** | past | Police | barriers |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent barrier=Goal |
| 2 | **keep back** | to-infinitive | Police *not said here* | the crowd |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crowd=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not speaking English was a barrier for the new boy at first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x4:1
# text = Not speaking English was a barrier for the new boy at first.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | English | a barrier |  |  |  | for the new boy | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Great Barrier Reef is off the coast of Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x5:1
# text = The Great Barrier Reef is off the coast of Australia.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	Barrier	Barrier	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Reef	Reef	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Great Barrier Reef |  |  |  |  | off the coast; of Australia | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fence is a barrier around the swimming pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x6:1
# text = A fence is a barrier around the swimming pool.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fence	fence	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	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fence | a barrier |  | the swimming pool |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ramps remove barriers for wheelchair users.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x7:1
# text = Ramps remove barriers for wheelchair users.
1	Ramps	ramp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	remove	remove	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	barriers	barrier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	wheelchair	wheelchair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	users	user	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remove** | present | Ramps | barriers |  |  |  | for wheelchair users | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent barrier=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skin is a barrier that keeps germs out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x8:1
# text = Skin is a barrier that keeps germs out.
1	Skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Skin | a barrier |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep out** | present | a barrier | germs |  |  |  | out *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent germ=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Furiously did the enraged gnome fling two great clouds together, and hurl a thunderbolt after the flying maiden, splintering the rocky barriers which had stood a thousand years.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrier:x9:1
# text = Furiously did the enraged gnome fling two great clouds together, and hurl a thunderbolt after the flying maiden, splintering the rocky barriers which had stood a thousand years.
1	Furiously	furiously	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	enraged	enrage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
5	gnome	gnome	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	fling	fling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	hurl	hurl	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	thunderbolt	thunderbolt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	amod	_	_
19	maiden	maiden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	splintering	splinter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	rocky	rocky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	barriers	barrier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
25	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj:pass	_	_
26	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
27	stood	stand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	24	acl:relcl	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	thousand	thousand	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	30	nummod	_	_
30	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past |  | the enraged gnome fling  two great clouds |  |  |  | furiously, together *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fling=Eventuality |
| 2 | **enrage** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **hurl** | infinitive |  | a thunderbolt |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thunderbolt=Theme |
| 4 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **splinter** | gerund |  | the rocky barriers |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent barrier=Patient |
| 6 | **stand** | past · perfect · passive |  | the rocky barriers |  |  | year |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

<!-- 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: [barrenness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barrenness/)
- next →: [barring](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barring/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)