---
title: chalk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chalk» in the school dictionary: Chalk is a soft white rock made from tiny shells of sea creatures. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chalk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Chalk, something, teacher, We, I, twins · **What happens:** be, make, use, draw, write, have · **To what, where:** soft white rock, tiny shells, stick, ground, it, board

<!-- .vabout -->
«chalk» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [chalk in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chalk.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chalk is a soft white rock made from tiny shells of sea creatures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:m1:1
# text = Chalk is a soft white rock made from tiny shells of sea creatures.
1	Chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Chalk | a soft white rock |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a soft white rock *not said here* |  | tiny shells of sea creatures |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from shell=Material |

<!-- .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 -->
Chalk is a stick made of this or similar stuff, used for writing on a blackboard or drawing on the ground.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:m2:1
# text = Chalk is a stick made of this or similar stuff, used for writing on a blackboard or drawing on the ground.
1	Chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	blackboard	blackboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	conj	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Chalk | a stick or similar stuff |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a stick or similar stuff *not said here* |  |  |  | of this | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | a stick or similar stuff *not said here* |  |  |  | for writing on a blackboard | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **draw** | gerund |  |  |  | the ground |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on ground=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To chalk something is to write or draw it with chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:m3:1
# text = To chalk something is to write or draw it with chalk.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	draw	draw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
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	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | write *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | infinitive | something *not said here* | it |  |  |  | with chalk | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher wrote on the board with chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x1:1
# text = The teacher wrote on the board with chalk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the teacher |  |  | the board with chalk |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on board=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew a hopscotch grid with chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x2:1
# text = We drew a hopscotch grid with chalk.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	hopscotch	hopscotch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	grid	grid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a hopscotch grid |  |  |  | with chalk | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grid=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I have a piece of chalk?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x3:1
# text = Can I have a piece of chalk?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | can | I | a piece of chalk |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x4:1
# text = The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	White	White	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Cliffs	Cliff	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Dover	Dover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chalk is a soft rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x5:1
# text = Chalk is a soft rock.
1	Chalk	chalk	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	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The twins are like chalk and cheese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x6:1
# text = The twins are like chalk and cheese.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the twins |  |  |  |  | like chalk and cheese | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team chalked up another win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x7:1
# text = Our team chalked up another win.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chalked	chalk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	win	win	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chalk up** | participle | Our team | another win |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent win=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sat down to work out his sum with a piece of chalk on a smooth stone.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chalk:x8:1
# text = He sat down to work out his sum with a piece of chalk on a smooth stone.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** | past | He |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work out** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his sum |  | a smooth stone |  | with a piece of chalk | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sum=Topic |
| 3 | **sum** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom sum «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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