---
title: coal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «coal» in the school dictionary: Coal is a hard black rock that is burned as fuel to give heat or make electricity. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# coal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Coal, Steam trains, Burning, Miners, Santa, we · **What happens:** be, burn, give, make, glow, form · **To what, where:** hard black rock, heat, electricity, one burning, piece, fire · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«coal» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [coal in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/coal.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coal is a hard black rock that is burned as fuel to give heat or make electricity.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:m1:1
# text = Coal is a hard black rock that is burned as fuel to give heat or make electricity.
1	Coal	coal	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	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	burned	burn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	fuel	fuel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
14	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
17	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Coal | a hard black rock |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **burn** | present · passive |  | a hard black rock |  |  |  | as fuel | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | heat |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heat=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | present |  | electricity |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset electricity=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A coal is one burning or glowing piece of coal or wood in a fire.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:m2:1
# text = A coal is one burning or glowing piece of coal or wood in a fire.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	burning	burning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	glowing	glow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a coal | one burning |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **glow** | gerund | a coal *not said here* | piece of coal or wood |  | a fire |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent piece=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coal is a fossil fuel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x1:1
# text = Coal is a fossil fuel.
1	Coal	coal	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	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	fuel	fuel	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 | Coal | a fossil fuel |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steam trains burned coal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x2:1
# text = Steam trains burned coal.
1	Steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	burned	burn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | past | Steam trains | coal |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coal=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coal glowed red in the fireplace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x3:1
# text = The coal glowed red in the fireplace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	glowed	glow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fireplace	fireplace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | past | the coal |  |  | the fireplace |  | red *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in fireplace=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coal formed from ancient plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x4:1
# text = Coal formed from ancient plants.
1	Coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	formed	form	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | past | Coal |  |  | ancient plants |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Burning coal releases carbon dioxide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x5:1
# text = Burning coal releases carbon dioxide.
1	Burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	releases	release	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	carbon	carbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	dioxide	dioxide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | gerund |  | coal |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coal=Theme |
| 2 | **release** | present | Burning | carbon dioxide |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer dioxide=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Miners dug coal deep underground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x6:1
# text = Miners dug coal deep underground.
1	Miners	miner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
5	underground	underground	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | Miners |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Santa leaves a lump of coal for naughty children, in the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x7:1
# text = Santa leaves a lump of coal for naughty children, in the story.
1	Santa	Santa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lump	lump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present | Santa | a lump of coal |  |  |  | for naughty children | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent lump=Theme for child=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘But what are we to do now?’ said the coal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coal:x8:1
# text = ‘But what are we to do now?’ said the coal.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	obj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	parataxis	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | we |  |  |  | now | do *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  | the coal |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent coal=Topic |

<!-- 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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