---
title: colon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «colon» in the school dictionary: A colon is the punctuation mark (:) that introduces a list, an explanation or an example: «You will need: a pen, a ruler and glue». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# colon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** colon, that, You, ratio, School · **What happens:** be, introduce, need, take out, separate, put · **To what, where:** punctuation mark, list, pen, main part, water, food waste · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«colon» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [colon in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/colon.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A colon is the punctuation mark (:) that introduces a list, an explanation or an example: «You will need: a pen, a ruler and glue».

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:m1:1
# text = A colon is the punctuation mark (:) that introduces a list, an explanation or an example: «You will need: a pen, a ruler and glue».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	punctuation	punctuation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	(:	(:	SYM	NFP	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	introduces	introduce	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
22	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	appos	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
31	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a colon | the punctuation mark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **introduce** | present | that | a list and a explanation or a example |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **need** *in a quote* | future | You | a pen |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot pen=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 -->
The colon is the main part of the large intestine (large bowel), the tube in the body where water is taken out of food waste.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:m2:1
# text = The colon is the main part of the large intestine (large bowel), the tube in the body where water is taken out of food waste.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	intestine	intestine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bowel	bowel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	24	advmod	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj:pass	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	_
25	out	out	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	compound	_	_
28	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the colon | the main part |  |  |  | of the large intestine | tree rules |
| 2 | **take out** | present · passive |  | water |  | food waste |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths and times, a colon separates numbers: in ratios (2:3) and in clock times (7:30).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:m3:1
# text = In maths and times, a colon separates numbers: in ratios (2:3) and in clock times (7:30).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	separates	separate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	ratios	ratio	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	2:3	2:3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
20	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	7:30	7:30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **separate** | present | a colon | numbers |  |  |  | in maths and times *goal*; in ratios and clock times | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent number=Theme in math=Goal |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The colon is the money of Costa Rica (colón).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:m4:1
# text = The colon is the money of Costa Rica (colón).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Costa	Costa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	Rica	Rica	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	flat	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	colón	colón	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the colon | the money |  |  |  | of Costa | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put a colon before the list.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x1:1
# text = Put a colon before the list.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | a colon |  | the list |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent colon=Theme before list=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bring three things: a hat, a drink and sun cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x2:1
# text = Bring three things: a hat, a drink and sun cream.
1	Bring	bring	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | imperative | you *not said here* | three things  a hat and a drink and sun cream |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The colon is part of the large intestine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x3:1
# text = The colon is part of the large intestine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	intestine	intestine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the colon | part |  |  |  | of the large intestine | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ratio of boys to girls is 3:4.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x4:1
# text = The ratio of boys to girls is 3:4.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ratio	ratio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	3:4	3:4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the ratio of boys to girls | 3:4 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
School starts at 8:45.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x5:1
# text = School starts at 8:45.
1	School	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	8:45	8:45	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | School |  |  | 8:45 |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a play script, write a colon after the name: «Tom: Hello!»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colon:x6:1
# text = In a play script, write a colon after the name: «Tom: Hello!»
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	script	script	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	colon	colon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
16	Hello	hello	INTJ	UH	_	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a colon |  | a play script | after the name | Tom *obl* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent colon=Recipient hello=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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