---
title: block — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «block» in the school dictionary: A block is a solid piece of wood, plastic or stone, often a cube, that children build with. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# block

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** block, children, tree, Randy, He, tower · **What happens:** be, build, block, pass, stop, have · **To what, where:** solid piece, that, group, road, ball, sport · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«block» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [block in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/block.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A block is a solid piece of wood, plastic or stone, often a cube, that children build with.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:m1:1
# text = A block is a solid piece of wood, plastic or stone, often a cube, that children build with.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	solid	solid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	cube	cube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	obj	_	_
19	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj	_	_
20	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	parataxis	_	_
21	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a block | a solid piece |  |  |  | of wood and plastic or stone | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | present | children | that |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=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 -->
A block is a group of buildings between streets, or a big building: «a block of flats».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:m2:1
# text = A block is a group of buildings between streets, or a big building: «a block of flats».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	block	block	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	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	streets	street	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	flats	flat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a block | a group or a big building |  |  |  | of buildings between streets | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To block is to stop something from passing: «A tree blocked the road».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:m3:1
# text = To block is to stop something from passing: «A tree blocked the road».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	block	block	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	passing	pass	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	blocked	block	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | stop *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **pass** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **block** *in a quote* | past | a tree | the road |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer road=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In sport, a block stops the ball or a player.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:m4:1
# text = In sport, a block stops the ball or a player.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | a block | the ball or a player |  | sport |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality ball=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Randy has 78 blocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x1:1
# text = Randy has 78 blocks.
1	Randy	Randy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	78	78	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Randy | 78 blocks |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent block=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He used 19 blocks to build a tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x2:1
# text = He used 19 blocks to build a tower.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	19	19	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | He | 19 blocks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent block=Patient |
| 2 | **build** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a tower |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tower=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each tower has 6 blocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x3:1
# text = Each tower has 6 blocks.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each tower | 6 blocks |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent block=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many more blocks did he use for the house than for the tower?

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x4:1
# text = How many more blocks did he use for the house than for the tower?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · do-support | many more blocks |  |  |  |  | for the house; than the tower | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We use blocks to show tens and ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x5:1
# text = We use blocks to show tens and ones.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	tens	ten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | We | blocks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent block=Patient |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | tens and ones |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ten=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school is two blocks from my house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x6:1
# text = Our school is two blocks from my house.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our school | two blocks |  | my house |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fallen tree blocked the path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x7:1
# text = A fallen tree blocked the path.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blocked	block	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **block** | past | a fallen tree | the path |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer path=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't block the fire door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x8:1
# text = Don't block the fire door.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	block	block	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	door	door	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 | **not** **block** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the fire door |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer door=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oh, you in front, what is blocking the way?”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:block:x9:1
# text = Oh, you in front, what is blocking the way?”
1	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	blocking	block	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | present · progressive | front | the way |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |

<!-- 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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