---
title: combust — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «combust» in the school dictionary: To burn, or to catch fire, especially through a chemical reaction with oxygen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# combust

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Petrol, Wood, Piles, you, rags, I · **What happens:** burn, catch, get, burst, combust, have · **To what, where:** fire, flames, car engine, oxygen, own, oily rags

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To burn, or to catch fire, especially through a chemical reaction with oxygen.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:m1:1
# text = To burn, or to catch fire, especially through a chemical reaction with oxygen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	burn	burn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	reaction	reaction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | fire |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=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: informal, joking — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get very angry or excited, as if about to burst into flames.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:m2:1
# text = To get very angry or excited, as if about to burst into flames.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	excited	excited	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	about	about	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	burst	burst	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	flames	flame	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **burst** *a condition, not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | flames |  | about *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Petrol combusts inside a car engine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x1:1
# text = Petrol combusts inside a car engine.
1	Petrol	petrol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	combusts	combust	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **combust** | present | Petrol |  |  | a car engine |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wood combusts when it gets hot enough and has oxygen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x2:1
# text = Wood combusts when it gets hot enough and has oxygen.
1	Wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	combusts	combust	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **combust** | present | Wood |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | Wood |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **have** | present | Wood *not said here* | oxygen |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oxygen=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Piles of damp hay can combust on their own.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x3:1
# text = Piles of damp hay can combust on their own.
1	Piles	pile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	hay	hay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	combust	combust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **combust** | can | Piles of damp hay |  |  | Piles's own |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never leave oily rags in a heap; they can combust.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x4:1
# text = Never leave oily rags in a heap; they can combust.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	oily	oily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rags	rag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	heap	heap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	combust	combust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | imperative | you *not said here* | oily rags |  | a heap |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent rag=Theme in heap=Location |
| 2 | **combust** | can | rags *= rag* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If I have to wait any longer, I'll combust!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x5:1
# text = If I have to wait any longer, I'll combust!
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	any	any	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	combust	combust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wait** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **combust** | future | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match combusted with a bright flash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combust:x6:1
# text = The match combusted with a bright flash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	combusted	combust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **combust** | participle |  | the match *not said here* |  |  |  | with a bright flash | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with flash=Instrument |

<!-- 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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