---
title: blackening — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «blackening» in the school dictionary: Becoming black or darker, or making something black or dark. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# blackening

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bad things, someone, things, sky, smoke, Bananas · **What happens:** become, make, damage, say, blacken, name · **To what, where:** something, good name, bad things, name, fruit, walls · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Becoming black or darker, or making something black or dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:m1:1
# text = Becoming black or darker, or making something black or dark.
1	Becoming	become	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	darker	dark	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | black *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Damaging someone's good name by saying bad things about them (blackening their name).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:m2:1
# text = Damaging someone's good name by saying bad things about them (blackening their name).
1	Damaging	damage	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **damage** | gerund |  | someone's good name |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | bad things |  |  |  | about things *= thing* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 3 | **blacken** | gerund | bad things *not said here* | things's name |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 4 | **name** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 5 | **name** |  | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The process or result of something going black, like burnt toast or rotting fruit.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:m3:1
# text = The process or result of something going black, like burnt toast or rotting fruit.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	_
7	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	burnt	burnt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	toast	toast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	rotting	rot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
15	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | black *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **rot** | gerund |  | fruit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **result** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom result «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sky was blackening before the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x1:1
# text = The sky was blackening before the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blacken** | past · progressive | the sky |  |  |  | before the storm |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smoke is blackening the walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x2:1
# text = The smoke is blackening the walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blacken** | present · progressive | the smoke | the walls |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent wall=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bananas start blackening in the fridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x3:1
# text = Bananas start blackening in the fridge.
1	Bananas	banana	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fridge	fridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Bananas |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **blacken** | gerund | Bananas *not said here* |  |  | the fridge |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was accused of blackening his rival's name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x4:1
# text = He was accused of blackening his rival's name.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	rival	rival	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accuse** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  |  | vn suspect-81 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **blacken** | gerund |  | his rival's name |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 3 | **name** |  | his rival |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chef was blackening the fish with spices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x5:1
# text = The chef was blackening the fish with spices.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chef	chef	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	spices	spice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blacken** | past · progressive | the chef | the fish |  |  |  | with spices | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent fish=Patient with spice=Instrument |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frost caused blackening of the plant's leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:blackening:x6:1
# text = Frost caused blackening of the plant's leaves.
1	Frost	frost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	blackening	blacken	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Frost |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **blacken** | gerund | Frost *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of the plant's leaves | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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