---
title: bc — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bc» in the school dictionary: BC is written after a year to mean that many years before the year 1 in the usual calendar, counted backwards. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bc

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** BC, text messages, short way, Julius, 300 BC, 50 BC · **What happens:** write, mean, count, stand, be, die · **To what, where:** BC, many years, usual calendar, short way, Great Pyramid, 2560 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
BC is written after a year to mean that many years before the year 1 in the usual calendar, counted backwards.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:m1:1
# text = BC is written after a year to mean that many years before the year 1 in the usual calendar, counted backwards.
1	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	xcomp	_	_
12	before	before	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	flat	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	calendar	calendar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	counted	count	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
22	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | BC |  |  | year |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | to-infinitive |  | many years |  |  | year | in the usual calendar | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in calendar=Attribute |
| 3 | **count** | participle |  | the usual calendar *not said here* |  |  |  | backwards *property* | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Julius Caesar died in 44 BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:m1e:1
# text = Julius Caesar died in 44 BC.
1	Julius	Julius	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Caesar	Caesar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	44	44	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
6	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | Julius |  |  |  |  | in 44  BC | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in 44=Attribute |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
BC stands for British Columbia, a province on the west coast of Canada.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:m2:1
# text = BC stands for British Columbia, a province on the west coast of Canada.
1	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	Columbia	Columbia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	province	province	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	west	west	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | BC |  |  |  |  | for British Columbia | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for columbia=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In text messages, «bc» is a short way of writing «because».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:m3:1
# text = In text messages, «bc» is a short way of writing «because».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	bc	BC	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | text messages | a short way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | gerund | a short way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent because=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x1:1
# text = The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Pyramid	Pyramid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	2560	2560	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obl	_	_
8	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | the Great Pyramid |  | 2560  BC |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x2:1
# text = Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BC.
1	Julius	Julius	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	Caesar	Caesar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	44	44	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
7	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | past · passive |  | Julius |  | 44  BC |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
300 BC came before 200 BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x3:1
# text = 300 BC came before 200 BC.
1	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	before	before	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
6	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | 300 BC | 200 |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From 50 BC to AD 50 is 99 years, because there is no year zero.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x4:1
# text = From 50 BC to AD 50 is 99 years, because there is no year zero.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	BC	BC	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	AD	ad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	99	99	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	13	expl	_	_
13	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	15	det	_	_
15	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
16	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 50 BC to AD | 99 years |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | present | no year | 99 years *not said here* |  | there |  |  | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot year=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vancouver is the largest city in BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x5:1
# text = Vancouver is the largest city in BC.
1	Vancouver	Vancouver	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Vancouver | the largest city |  | BC |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I can't come bc I have practice,» my friend texted.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bc:x6:1
# text = «I can't come bc I have practice,» my friend texted.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	ccomp	_	_
6	bc	BC	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	texted	text	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **come** *in a quote* | can | I | bc |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bc=Theme |
| 2 | **have** *in a quote* | present | I | practice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent practice=Patient |
| 3 | **text** | past | my friend |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
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