---
title: canal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «canal» in the school dictionary: A long, narrow waterway dug by people so boats can travel or water can flow, for example across a country. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# canal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** boats, long narrow waterway, We, long narrow boat, Panama Canal, hand · **What happens:** dig, travel, flow, walk, go, join · **To what, where:** long narrow waterway, country, canal towpath, canal, two oceans, Canals

<!-- .vabout -->
«canal» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [canal in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/canal.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long, narrow waterway dug by people so boats can travel or water can flow, for example across a country.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:m1:1
# text = A long, narrow waterway dug by people so boats can travel or water can flow, for example across a country.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	waterway	waterway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
6	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:agent	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	travel	travel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	flow	flow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	across	across	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | participle |  | a long narrow waterway *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **travel** | can | boats |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **flow** | can | a long narrow waterway |  |  | a country |  | for example | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 narrow tube in the body, such as the ear canal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:m2:1
# text = A narrow tube in the body, such as the ear canal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We walked along the canal towpath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x1:1
# text = We walked along the canal towpath.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	along	along	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	towpath	towpath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | We |  |  | the canal towpath |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along towpath=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long narrow boat went slowly down the canal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x2:1
# text = A long narrow boat went slowly down the canal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | a long narrow boat |  |  | the canal |  | slowly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme down canal=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Panama Canal joins two oceans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x3:1
# text = The Panama Canal joins two oceans.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Panama	Panama	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Canal	Canal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	oceans	ocean	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 | **join** | present | the Panama Canal | two oceans |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ocean=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Canals were dug by hand long ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x4:1
# text = Canals were dug by hand long ago.
1	Canals	canal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
7	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past · passive | hand | Canals |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never swim in a canal; the water is cold and deep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x5:1
# text = Never swim in a canal; the water is cold and deep.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **swim** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | a canal |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in canal=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | the water |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | the water *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't push cotton buds into your ear canal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x6:1
# text = Don't push cotton buds into your ear canal.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	push	push	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	cotton	cotton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	buds	bud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	canal	canal	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 | **not** **push** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | cotton buds |  | your ear canal |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bud=Theme into canal=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The canal had locks to lift boats up the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x7:1
# text = The canal had locks to lift boats up the hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	locks	lock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the canal | locks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lift** | to-infinitive | locks *not said here* | boats |  | the hill |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent boat=Theme up hill=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing was to be seen but an open meadow, surrounded by a few bushes, through which ran a broad canal or stream.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canal:x8:1
# text = Nothing was to be seen but an open meadow, surrounded by a few bushes, through which ran a broad canal or stream.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	meadow	meadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	surrounded	surround	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	bushes	bush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	through	through	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
19	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	broad	broad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past · passive |  | Nothing |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |
| 2 | **surround** | participle · passive | a few bushes | a open meadow |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme subject=Co-Theme |
| 3 | **run** | past |  | a broad canal or stream |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme canal=Trajectory |

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**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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