---
title: cancer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cancer» in the school dictionary: Cancer is a serious illness in which some cells in the body grow out of control and can spread. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cancer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cancer, cells, aunt, much sun, Smoking, Doctors · **What happens:** be, grow out, spread, have, cause, work · **To what, where:** serious illness, control, one kind, group, treatment, skin cancer

<!-- .vabout -->
«cancer» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [cancer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cancer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cancer is a serious illness in which some cells in the body grow out of control and can spread.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:m1:1
# text = Cancer is a serious illness in which some cells in the body grow out of control and can spread.
1	Cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obl	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cancer | a serious illness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow out** | infinitive | some cells in the body | control |  | a serious illness |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location control=Theme |
| 3 | **spread** | can | some cells in the body *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 cancer is one kind of this illness, like skin cancer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:m2:1
# text = A cancer is one kind of this illness, like skin cancer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cancer | one kind |  |  |  | of this illness; like skin cancer | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cancer is also a group of stars and a star sign, with a capital C.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:m3:1
# text = Cancer is also a group of stars and a star sign, with a capital C.
1	Cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
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	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	C.	c.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cancer | a group and a capital C. |  |  |  | of stars and a star sign | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt is having treatment for cancer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x1:1
# text = My aunt is having treatment for cancer.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	treatment	treatment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present · progressive | My aunt | treatment |  |  |  | for cancer | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treatment=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much sun can cause skin cancer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x2:1
# text = Too much sun can cause skin cancer.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | much sun | skin cancer |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition cancer=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smoking can cause lung cancer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x3:1
# text = Smoking can cause lung cancer.
1	Smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	lung	lung	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Smoking | lung cancer |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition cancer=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors and scientists work hard to cure cancer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x4:1
# text = Doctors and scientists work hard to cure cancer.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cure	cure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | Doctors and scientists |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cure** | to-infinitive | Doctors and scientists *not said here* | cancer |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer cancer=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people get better after cancer treatment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x5:1
# text = Many people get better after cancer treatment.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	treatment	treatment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Many people |  |  |  | after cancer treatment | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You cannot catch cancer from another person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x6:1
# text = You cannot catch cancer from another person.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **catch** | can | You | cancer |  |  |  | from another person | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent cancer=Theme from person=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Tropic of Cancer is a line on the map north of the equator.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cancer:x7:1
# text = The Tropic of Cancer is a line on the map north of the equator.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Tropic	Tropic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Cancer	Cancer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	north	north	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	equator	equator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Tropic of Cancer | a line |  | the map of the equator |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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