---
title: ca — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ca» in the school dictionary: ca. or c. (from Latin «circa») means «about» or «around», used with dates and numbers: ca. 1500. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ca

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ça, you, English speakers, Ca, address, Her · **What happens:** mean, use, be, hear, make, address · **To what, where:** ça, vase, symbol, periodic table, Los, castle

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
ca. or c. (from Latin «circa») means «about» or «around», used with dates and numbers: ca. 1500.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ca. or c. (from Latin «circa») means «about» or «around», used with dates and numbers: ca.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m1:1
# text = ca. or c. (from Latin «circa») means «about» or «around», used with dates and numbers: ca.
1	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	c.	c.	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	circa	circa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	about	about	ADV	RB	_	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	around	around	ADV	RB	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
22	with	with	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	dates	date	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
27	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent about=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with dates and numbers | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* 1500.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m1:2
# text = 1500.
1	1500	1500	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ca (science) the chemical symbol for calcium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m2:1
# text = Ca (science) the chemical symbol for calcium.
1	Ca	Ca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	calcium	calcium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
CA (USA) short for California; also for Canada in internet addresses (.ca).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m3:1
# text = CA (USA) short for California; also for Canada in internet addresses (.ca).
1	CA	ca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	California	California	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	also	also	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	addresses	address	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«ça» means «that» or «it», as in «Ça va?» (How are you?); English speakers hear it as «sa». Not an English word.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «ça» means «that» or «it», as in «Ça va?»

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m4:1
# text = «ça» means «that» or «it», as in «Ça va?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	ça	ça	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	Ça	Ça	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	va	VA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | ça |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (How are you?); English speakers hear it as «sa».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m4:2
# text = (How are you?); English speakers hear it as «sa».
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	speakers	speaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hear	hear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	sa	sa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | present | English speakers | ça |  |  |  | as sa | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Not an English word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:m4:3
# text = Not an English word.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vase was made ca. 300 BC.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The vase was made ca.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x1:1
# text = The vase was made ca.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the vase |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* 300 BC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x1:2
# text = 300 BC.
1	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
2	BC	BC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ca is the symbol for calcium on the periodic table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x2:1
# text = Ca is the symbol for calcium on the periodic table.
1	Ca	Ca	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	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	calcium	calcium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	periodic	periodic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ca | the symbol |  | the periodic table |  | for calcium | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her address was Los Angeles, CA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x3:1
# text = Her address was Los Angeles, CA.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	address	address	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	Los	Los	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	Angeles	Angeles	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	CA	CA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Her address | Los |  |  |  | CA *nmod:unmarked* | tree rules |
| 2 | **address** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom address «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Canadian websites end with .ca.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x4:1
# text = Canadian websites end with .ca.
1	Canadian	Canadian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	websites	website	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	end	end	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | Canadian websites |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Ça va?" "Ça va bien, merci!"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Ça va?" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x5:1
# text = "Ça va?" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ça	Ça	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	va	VA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Ça va bien, merci!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x5:2
# text = Ça va bien, merci!"
1	Ça	Ça	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	va	VA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	bien	Bien	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	merci	merci	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was built ca. 1200.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The castle was built ca.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x6:1
# text = The castle was built ca.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* 1200.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ca:x6:2
# text = 1200.
1	1200	1200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [byzantine](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/byzantine/)
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