---
title: brick — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «brick» in the school dictionary: A brick is a hard block made of baked clay, used to build walls and houses. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# brick

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** brick, toy brick, You, someone, wall, He · **What happens:** be, make, bake, use, build, say · **To what, where:** hard block, walls, material, building block, brick, old way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«brick» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [brick in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/brick.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A brick is a hard block made of baked clay, used to build walls and houses.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:m1:1
# text = A brick is a hard block made of baked clay, used to build walls and houses.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	brick	brick	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	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	baked	bake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a brick | a hard block |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a hard block *not said here* |  |  |  | of baked clay | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **bake** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **use** | participle | a brick *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **build** | to-infinitive | a brick *not said here* | walls and houses |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wall=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 -->
Brick is the material: «a brick house».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:m2:1
# text = Brick is the material: «a brick house».
1	Brick	Brick	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A toy brick is a building block.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:m3:1
# text = A toy brick is a building block.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To brick up a gap is to fill it with bricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:m4:1
# text = To brick up a gap is to fill it with bricks.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fill	fill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | brick |  |  |  |  | with bricks; fill *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You're a brick» is an old way to say someone is very kind and helpful.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:m5:1
# text = «You're a brick» is an old way to say someone is very kind and helpful.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	very	very	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | You | a brick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a brick | a old way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wall has 20 rows of 15 bricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x1:1
# text = A wall has 20 rows of 15 bricks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a wall | 20 rows of 15 bricks |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent row=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each brick weighs 3 kg.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x2:1
# text = Each brick weighs 3 kg.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	weighs	weigh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	kg	kg	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 | **weigh** | present | each brick | 3 kg |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme kg=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He lays 200 bricks an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x3:1
# text = He lays 200 bricks an hour.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | He | 200 bricks  a hour |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brick=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many bricks are left?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x4:1
# text = How many bricks are left?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present · passive |  | many bricks |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The third little pig built his house of bricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x5:1
# text = The third little pig built his house of bricks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	third	third	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	pig	pig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the third little pig | pig's house of bricks |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent house=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school is an old red brick building.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x6:1
# text = Our school is an old red brick building.
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	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our school | a old red brick building |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They built the wall brick by brick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x7:1
# text = They built the wall brick by brick.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | They | the wall brick |  |  |  | by brick | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset brick=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toddler stacked his toy bricks into a tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x8:1
# text = The toddler stacked his toy bricks into a tower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stacked	stack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tower	tower	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 | **stack** | past | the toddler | toddler's toy bricks |  | a tower |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent brick=Theme into tower=Destination |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was built of red brick, with projecting gables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brick:x9:1
# text = It was built of red brick, with projecting gables.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	projecting	projecting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	gables	gable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | It |  |  |  | of red brick; with projecting gables | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme with gable=Source |

<!-- 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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