---
title: catastrophe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «catastrophe» in the school dictionary: A sudden terrible event that causes great damage or suffering, like an earthquake or flood. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# catastrophe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sudden terrible event, flood, Scientists, dam, volcano eruption, science fair project · **What happens:** cause, go, be, warn, fail, project · **To what, where:** great damage, catastrophe, total catastrophe, tickets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden terrible event that causes great damage or suffering, like an earthquake or flood.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:m1:1
# text = A sudden terrible event that causes great damage or suffering, like an earthquake or flood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | a sudden terrible event | great damage or suffering and a earthquake or flood |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition damage=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 -->
Something that goes very badly wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:m2:1
# text = Something that goes very badly wrong.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present |  |  |  |  |  | badly, wrong *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flood was a catastrophe for the town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x1:1
# text = The flood was a catastrophe for the town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	catastrophe	catastrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the flood | a catastrophe |  |  |  | for the town | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists warn that the dam could fail and cause a catastrophe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x2:1
# text = Scientists warn that the dam could fail and cause a catastrophe.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	warn	warn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	fail	fail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	catastrophe	catastrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fail** | could | the dam |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cause** | infinitive | the dam *not said here* | a catastrophe |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition catastrophe=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The volcano eruption was a catastrophe for Pompeii.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x3:1
# text = The volcano eruption was a catastrophe for Pompeii.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	volcano	volcano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	eruption	eruption	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	catastrophe	catastrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Pompeii	Pompeii	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the volcano eruption | a catastrophe |  |  |  | for Pompeii | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our science fair project was a total catastrophe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x4:1
# text = Our science fair project was a total catastrophe.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	catastrophe	catastrophe	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** | past | Our science fair project | a total catastrophe |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **project** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom project «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quick action prevented a catastrophe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x5:1
# text = Quick action prevented a catastrophe.
1	Quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prevented	prevent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	catastrophe	catastrophe	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 | **prevent** | past | Quick action | a catastrophe |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer catastrophe=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forgetting the tickets would be a catastrophe!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x6:1
# text = Forgetting the tickets would be a catastrophe!
1	Forgetting	forget	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	catastrophe	catastrophe	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 | **forget** | gerund |  | the tickets |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | would | Forgetting | a catastrophe |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Such a catastrophe nearly happened to the young Englishman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:catastrophe:x7:1
# text = Such a catastrophe nearly happened to the young Englishman.
1	Such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	3	det:predet	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	catastrophe	catastrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Englishman	Englishman	PROPN	NNP	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 | **happen** | past | such catastrophe |  |  |  |  | to the young Englishman; nearly *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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