---
title: billion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «billion» in the school dictionary: A billion is one thousand million: 1,000,000,000. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# billion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** billion, Billions, billion people, Earth, half, you · **What happens:** be, mean, feel, be about, write, cost · **To what, where:** one, huge feeling number, billion thousand million, four, one billion, galaxy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«billion» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [billion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/billion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A billion is one thousand million: 1,000,000,000.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:m1:1
# text = A billion is one thousand million: 1,000,000,000.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	thousand	thousand	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	compound	_	_
6	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a billion | one |  |  |  | thousand million *nmod* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Billions means a huge, uncountable-feeling number of things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:m2:1
# text = Billions means a huge, uncountable-feeling number of things.
1	Billions	billion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	uncountable	uncountable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Billions | a huge feeling number of things |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |
| 2 | **feel** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A billion is a thousand million.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x1:1
# text = A billion is a thousand million.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	compound	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thousand	thousand	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	compound	_	_
6	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a billion thousand million |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are about eight billion people in the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x2:1
# text = There are about eight billion people in the world.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	compound	_	_
5	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be about** | present | billion people in the world |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Earth is about four and a half billion years old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x3:1
# text = The Earth is about four and a half billion years old.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	11	nsubj	_	_
9	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Earth | four |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a half |  |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write one billion with nine zeros.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x4:1
# text = Write one billion with nine zeros.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	compound	_	_
3	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	zeros	zero	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | one billion |  |  |  | with nine zeros | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent billion=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are billions of stars in our galaxy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x5:1
# text = There are billions of stars in our galaxy.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	billions	billion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	galaxy	galaxy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | billions of stars |  |  | our galaxy; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in galaxy=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge cost two billion dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x6:1
# text = The bridge cost two billion dollars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cost	cost	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	compound	_	_
5	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | the bridge | billion dollars |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme dollar=Value |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I've told you a billion times!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x7:1
# text = I've told you a billion times!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · perfect | I |  | you |  | time |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Michael was ready: he wanted to see how long it took him to do a billion miles.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:billion:x8:1
# text = Michael was ready: he wanted to see how long it took him to do a billion miles.
1	Michael	Michael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	billion	billion	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Michael |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **want** | past | Michael |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **see** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Michael *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **take** | past | it |  | Michael |  |  | long *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument he=Destination |
| 5 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | billion miles |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mile=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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