---
title: colonise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «colonise» in the school dictionary: To colonise a place means a country sends people to settle there and takes control of the land, often from the people already living there. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# colonise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** country, people, plants, Britain, Settlers, Nations people · **What happens:** colonise, mean, send, settle, take, live · **To what, where:** place, people, control, Australia, 1788, large parts · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To colonise a place means a country sends people to settle there and takes control of the land, often from the people already living there.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:m1:1
# text = To colonise a place means a country sends people to settle there and takes control of the land, often from the people already living there.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	colonise	colonise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sends	send	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	settle	settle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
12	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
15	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
21	from	from	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
24	already	already	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	acl	_	_
26	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **colonise** | to-infinitive |  | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **send** | present | a country | people |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme |
| 4 | **settle** | to-infinitive | a country *not said here* |  |  | there |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **take** | present | a country *not said here* | control of the land |  |  |  | from the people | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent control=Theme from people=Initial\_Location |
| 6 | **live** | gerund | the people *not said here* |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When plants, animals or germs colonise a place, they spread into it and start living and growing there.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:m2:1
# text = When plants, animals or germs colonise a place, they spread into it and start living and growing there.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
2	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
7	colonise	colonise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
17	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	xcomp	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	conj	_	_
20	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **colonise** | present | plants and animals or germs | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | past | plants *= plant* |  |  | place |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into it=Destination |
| 3 | **start** | infinitive | plants *= plant* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **live** | gerund | plants *= plant* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **grow** | gerund | plants *= plant* *not said here* |  |  | there |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Britain began to colonise Australia in 1788.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x1:1
# text = Britain began to colonise Australia in 1788.
1	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	colonise	colonise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	1788	1788	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Britain |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **colonise** | to-infinitive | Britain *not said here* | Australia |  | 1788 |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Settlers from Europe colonised large parts of North America.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x2:1
# text = Settlers from Europe colonised large parts of North America.
1	Settlers	settler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	colonised	colonis	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **colonis** | past | Settlers from Europe | large parts of North America |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The First Nations people did not invite anyone to colonise their land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x3:1
# text = The First Nations people did not invite anyone to colonise their land.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	First	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	Nations	Nation	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	compound	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	invite	invite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	colonise	colonise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **invite** | past · do-support | Nations people | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent anyone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **colonise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | anyone *not said here* | people's land |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weeds quickly colonised the empty car park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x4:1
# text = Weeds quickly colonised the empty car park.
1	Weeds	weed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	colonised	colonis	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **colonis** | past | Weeds | the empty car park |  |  |  | quickly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bacteria can colonise a cut if you do not clean it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x5:1
# text = Bacteria can colonise a cut if you do not clean it.
1	Bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	colonise	colonise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **colonise** | can | Bacteria | a cut |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **clean** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · do-support | you | cut |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some scientists dream of colonising Mars one day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x6:1
# text = Some scientists dream of colonising Mars one day.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dream	dream	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	colonising	colonis	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	Mars	Mars	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dream** | present | some scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn cognize-85 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **colonis** | gerund | some scientists *not said here* | Mars |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lichens are often the first living things to colonise bare rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:colonise:x7:1
# text = Lichens are often the first living things to colonise bare rock.
1	Lichens	lichen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
6	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	colonise	colonise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lichens | the first living things |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **colonise** | to-infinitive |  | bare rock |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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