---
title: boatload — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boatload» in the school dictionary: The number of people or the amount of goods a boat can carry or is carrying. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boatload

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** number, boatload, first boatloads, ferry, We, 30 children · **What happens:** carry, amount, arrive, reach, take, get · **To what, where:** goods, something, island, Australia, 1788, boatload

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The number of people or the amount of goods a boat can carry or is carrying.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:m1:1
# text = The number of people or the amount of goods a boat can carry or is carrying.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	7	nmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:unmarked	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | can | the number of people or the amount of goods  a boat |  |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **carry** | present · progressive | the number of people or the amount of goods  a boat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **amount** |  |  | goods  a boat |  |  |  |  | nom amount «possession transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very large number or amount of something: «a boatload of homework».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:m2:1
# text = A very large number or amount of something: «a boatload of homework».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amount** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom amount «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boatload of tourists arrived at the island.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x1:1
# text = A boatload of tourists arrived at the island.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tourists	tourist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrive** | past | a boatload of tourists |  |  | the island |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first boatloads of convicts reached Australia in 1788.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x2:1
# text = The first boatloads of convicts reached Australia in 1788.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	boatloads	boatload	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	convicts	convict	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	1788	1788	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | past | the first boatloads of convicts | Australia |  | 1788 |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent australia=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ferry can take a boatload of 40 cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x3:1
# text = The ferry can take a boatload of 40 cars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ferry	ferry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | can | the ferry | a boatload of 40 cars |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boatload=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We got a boatload of presents for my birthday!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x4:1
# text = We got a boatload of presents for my birthday!
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	presents	present	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	birthday	birthday	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 | **get** | past | We | a boatload of presents |  |  |  | for my birthday | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent boatload=Theme for birthday=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If each boatload holds 8 children, 30 children need 4 boatloads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x5:1
# text = If each boatload holds 8 children, 30 children need 4 boatloads.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	boatloads	boatload	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | each boatload | 8 children |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Theme |
| 2 | **need** | present | 30 children | 4 boatloads |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot boatload=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish were brought to the harbour by the boatload.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boatload:x6:1
# text = Fish were brought to the harbour by the boatload.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boatload	boatload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | past · passive | the boatload | Fish |  | the harbour |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Theme to harbour=Destination |

<!-- 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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