---
title: city — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «city» in the school dictionary: A city is a very large town where many people live and work. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# city

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** city, many people, people, two cities, train, it · **What happens:** be, live, work, mean, give, have · **To what, where:** large town, people, town, countries, cathedral, 45,000 people · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«city» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [city in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/city.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A city is a very large town where many people live and work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:m1:1
# text = A city is a very large town where many people live and work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a city | a large town |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | many people |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **work** | present | many people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «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 -->
The city can mean the people who live there.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:m2:1
# text = The city can mean the people who live there.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | the city | the people |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Topic |
| 2 | **live** | present | the people |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some countries a city is a town that has been given that special title, often because it has a cathedral.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:m3:1
# text = In some countries a city is a town that has been given that special title, often because it has a cathedral.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
10	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
14	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
18	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	cathedral	cathedral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a city | a town |  | some countries |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present · perfect · passive |  | a town |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: that=Recipient title=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present | city | a cathedral |  |  |  | often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cathedral=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The city has 45,000 people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x1:1
# text = The city has 45,000 people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	45,000	45,000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	people	people	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 | the city | 45,000 people |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two cities are 120 miles apart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x2:1
# text = The two cities are 120 miles apart.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	120	120	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the two cities | 120 miles |  |  |  | apart *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A train goes from one city to another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x3:1
# text = A train goes from one city to another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | a train |  |  | one city to another |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme from city=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How far is it to the city?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x4:1
# text = How far is it to the city?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | to the city; far *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x5:1
# text = London is the capital city of the United Kingdom.
1	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	capital	capital	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	United	United	PROPN	NNP	_	9	flat	_	_
9	Kingdom	Kingdom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | London | the capital city |  |  |  | of the United Kingdom | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited a museum in the city centre.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x6:1
# text = We visited a museum in the city centre.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | We | a museum |  | the city centre |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent museum=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people in the city take the bus or the subway to work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x7:1
# text = Many people in the city take the bus or the subway to work.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	subway	subway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | infinitive | Many people in the city | the bus or the subway |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | to-infinitive | Many people in the city *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At night the city lights shine for miles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x8:1
# text = At night the city lights shine for miles.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	shine	shine	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | present | the city lights |  |  |  | night | for miles | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sydney is the biggest city in Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x9:1
# text = Sydney is the biggest city in Australia.
1	Sydney	Sydney	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sydney | the biggest city |  | Australia |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Where is this city?” asked Dorothy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:city:x10:1
# text = “Where is this city?” asked Dorothy.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	5	advmod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Dorothy	Dorothy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | this city |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | this city |  | Dorothy |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent dorothy=Recipient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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