---
title: checkmate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «checkmate» in the school dictionary: In chess, checkmate is when a king is attacked and cannot escape, so the game ends and that player loses. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# checkmate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** game, player, Checkmate, She, king, you · **What happens:** be, not escape, end, lose, checkmate, trap · **To what, where:** checkmate, chess, someone, king, situation, queen · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In chess, checkmate is when a king is attacked and cannot escape, so the game ends and that player loses.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:m1:1
# text = In chess, checkmate is when a king is attacked and cannot escape, so the game ends and that player loses.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	attacked	attack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
19	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
22	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	loses	lose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present · passive |  | checkmate |  | chess |  | attack *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **escape** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **end** | present | the game |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 4 | **lose** | present | player |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To checkmate someone is to win a chess game by trapping their king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:m2:1
# text = To checkmate someone is to win a chess game by trapping their king.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	checkmate	checkmate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
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	win	win	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	trapping	trap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	advcl	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **checkmate** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | win *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **trap** | gerund |  | their king |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Checkmate can mean a situation where someone is completely beaten or stuck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:m3:1
# text = Checkmate can mean a situation where someone is completely beaten or stuck.
1	Checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	beaten	beat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Checkmate | a situation |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent situation=Topic |
| 2 | **beat** | present · passive |  | someone |  |  |  | completely *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She moved her queen and said, «Checkmate!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x1:1
# text = She moved her queen and said, «Checkmate!»
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | She | her queen |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent queen=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | She *not said here* | Checkmate |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My king was in check, but not in checkmate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x2:1
# text = My king was in check, but not in checkmate.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	check	check	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | My king |  |  | check |  | in checkmate | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you find checkmate in two moves?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x3:1
# text = Can you find checkmate in two moves?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | can | you | checkmate |  | two moves |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent checkmate=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He checkmated me with just a rook and a king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x4:1
# text = He checkmated me with just a rook and a king.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	checkmated	checkmate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rook	rook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **checkmate** | past | He | me |  |  |  | with a rook and a king | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The game ended in checkmate after twenty moves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x5:1
# text = The game ended in checkmate after twenty moves.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the game |  |  | checkmate | after twenty moves |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa taught me how to checkmate with two rooks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x6:1
# text = Grandpa taught me how to checkmate with two rooks.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	checkmate	checkmate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	rooks	rook	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | Grandpa |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **checkmate** | to-infinitive | Grandpa *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with two rooks | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective's clever plan was checkmate for the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x7:1
# text = The detective's clever plan was checkmate for the thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the detective's clever plan | checkmate |  |  |  | for the thief | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is not checkmate if the king can move to a safe square.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:checkmate:x8:1
# text = It is not checkmate if the king can move to a safe square.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	checkmate	checkmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | It | checkmate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** *a condition, not said to happen* | can | the king | checkmate *not said here* |  | a safe square |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent checkmate=Theme to square=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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