---
title: chessboard — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chessboard» in the school dictionary: A square board with 64 squares in eight rows of eight, coloured light and dark in turn, used for playing chess or draughts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chessboard

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chessboard, chessboard squares, We, 32 dark squares, cat, he · **What happens:** use, play, set up, have, be, knock · **To what, where:** coloured light, chess, pieces, chessboard, 64 squares, draughts

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A square board with 64 squares in eight rows of eight, coloured light and dark in turn, used for playing chess or draughts.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:m1:1
# text = A square board with 64 squares in eight rows of eight, coloured light and dark in turn, used for playing chess or draughts.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	square	square	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	64	64	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
21	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
22	playing	play	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	advcl	_	_
23	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	draughts	draught	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | coloured light *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | gerund |  | chess or draughts |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chess=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Set up the pieces on the chessboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x1:1
# text = Set up the pieces on the chessboard.
1	Set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set up** | participle |  | the pieces |  | the chessboard |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent piece=Theme on chessboard=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A chessboard has 64 squares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x2:1
# text = A chessboard has 64 squares.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	64	64	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a chessboard | 64 squares |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent square=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chessboard squares are black and white.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x3:1
# text = The chessboard squares are black and white.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	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 chessboard squares |  |  |  |  | black *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the chessboard squares *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used the chessboard to play draughts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x4:1
# text = We used the chessboard to play draughts.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	draughts	draught	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | the chessboard |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chessboard=Patient |
| 2 | **play** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | draughts |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent draught=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 32 dark squares on a chessboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x5:1
# text = There are 32 dark squares on a chessboard.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	32	32	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 32 dark squares on a chessboard |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat knocked over the chessboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x6:1
# text = The cat knocked over the chessboard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock** | past | the cat |  |  | the chessboard |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over chessboard=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Who are you at all?” he cried, starting back from the chessboard and staring on Fionn.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chessboard:x7:1
# text = “Who are you at all?” he cried, starting back from the chessboard and staring on Fionn.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	starting	start	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	chessboard	chessboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	staring	stare	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Fionn	Fionn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **start back** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  | the chessboard |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **stare** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on Fionn | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on fionn=Theme |

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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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