---
title: clay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clay» in the school dictionary: Clay is soft, sticky earth that you can shape with your hands and then bake or dry so it goes hard. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Clay, sticky earth, Clay soil, heavy soil, She, pot · **What happens:** be, shape, bake, dry, go, use · **To what, where:** Clay, heavy soil, water, 2 kg, 300 g, 6 clay bowls · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay is soft, sticky earth that you can shape with your hands and then bake or dry so it goes hard.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:m1:1
# text = Clay is soft, sticky earth that you can shape with your hands and then bake or dry so it goes hard.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	shape	shape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	16	advmod	_	_
16	bake	bake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	dry	dry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	_
19	so	so	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
22	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Clay |  |  |  |  | sticky earth *obl*; soft *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shape** | can | sticky earth |  |  |  |  | with your hands | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **bake** | infinitive | sticky earth *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **dry** | infinitive | sticky earth *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **go** | present | Clay |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay is used for pots, bricks, tiles and models.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:m2:1
# text = Clay is used for pots, bricks, tiles and models.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	tiles	tile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	models	model	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Clay |  |  |  | for pots and bricks and tiles and models | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for pot=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay soil is heavy soil that holds water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:m3:1
# text = Clay soil is heavy soil that holds water.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Clay soil | heavy soil |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | heavy soil | water |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has 2 kg of clay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x1:1
# text = She has 2 kg of clay.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	kg	kg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | 2 kg of clay |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kg=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each pot uses 300 g of clay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x2:1
# text = Each pot uses 300 g of clay.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	g	G	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	clay	clay	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 | **use** | present | each pot | 300 g of clay |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent g=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made 6 clay bowls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x3:1
# text = He made 6 clay bowls.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bowls	bowl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | 6 clay bowls |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bowl=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many pots from 3 pounds of clay?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x4:1
# text = How many pots from 3 pounds of clay?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made clay animals in art class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x5:1
# text = We made clay animals in art class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	class	class	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 | **make** | past | We | clay animals |  | art class |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pot is baked in a hot oven called a kiln.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x6:1
# text = The pot is baked in a hot oven called a kiln.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	baked	bake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	kiln	kiln	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bake** | present · passive |  | the pot |  |  |  | in a hot oven | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: subject=Patient in oven=Instrument |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a hot oven *not said here* | a kiln |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent kiln=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bricks are made from clay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x7:1
# text = Bricks are made from clay.
1	Bricks	brick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Bricks |  | clay |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: subject=Product from clay=Material |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay soil gets sticky after rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clay:x8:1
# text = Clay soil gets sticky after rain.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rain	rain	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 | **get** | present | Clay soil |  |  |  | after rain | sticky *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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