---
title: ddt — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ddt» in the school dictionary: DDT is a strong chemical insecticide (short for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) that was once sprayed widely to kill mosquitoes, lice and crop pests. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/ddt/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / ddt

# ddt

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** DDT, eggshells, farm, Rachel, Many countries, Bald eagles · **What happens:** be, spray, kill, crop, find, harm · **To what, where:** strong chemical insecticide, that, mosquitoes, pests, DDT, wildlife

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DDT is a strong chemical insecticide (short for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) that was once sprayed widely to kill mosquitoes, lice and crop pests.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:m1:1
# text = DDT is a strong chemical insecticide (short for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) that was once sprayed widely to kill mosquitoes, lice and crop pests.
1	DDT	ddt	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	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	insecticide	insecticide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane	dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
14	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	15	advmod	_	_
15	sprayed	spray	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
16	widely	widely	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
19	mosquitoes	mosquito	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	crop	crop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
24	pests	pest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | DDT | a strong chemical insecticide |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spray** | past · passive |  | that |  |  |  | once, widely *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **kill** | to-infinitive |  | mosquitoes and lice |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mosquito=Theme |
| 4 | **crop** | infinitive |  | pests |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pest=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
DDT was found to harm wildlife, especially birds of prey, whose eggshells became thin and broke; it was banned for farm use in many countries, though small amounts are still used against malaria mosquitoes in some places.

<!-- fold The tree, 37 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:m2:1
# text = DDT was found to harm wildlife, especially birds of prey, whose eggshells became thin and broke; it was banned for farm use in many countries, though small amounts are still used against malaria mosquitoes in some places.
1	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	wildlife	wildlife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	eggshells	eggshell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
16	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
23	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
25	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	advcl	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
30	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	35	mark	_	_
31	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	32	amod	_	_
32	amounts	amount	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	35	nsubj:pass	_	_
33	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	aux:pass	_	_
34	still	still	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
35	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	conj	_	_
36	against	against	ADP	IN	_	38	case	_	_
37	malaria	malaria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	38	compound	_	_
38	mosquitoes	mosquito	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	35	obl	_	_
39	in	in	ADP	IN	_	41	case	_	_
40	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	41	det	_	_
41	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	38	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past · passive |  | DDT |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 2 | **harm** | to-infinitive | DDT *not said here* | wildlife and birds of prey |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus wildlife=Experiencer |
| 3 | **become** | past | eggshells |  |  |  |  | thin *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **break** | past | eggshells *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **ban** | past · passive |  | DDT |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 6 | **use** | present | farm |  |  | many countries |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **use** | present · passive |  | small amounts |  |  | still | against malaria mosquitoes in some places | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DDT was sprayed on fields to kill insects.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x1:1
# text = DDT was sprayed on fields to kill insects.
1	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	sprayed	spray	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spray** | past · passive |  | DDT |  | fields |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme on field=Destination |
| 2 | **kill** | to-infinitive |  | insects |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DDT made birds' eggshells too thin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x2:1
# text = DDT made birds' eggshells too thin.
1	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	eggshells	eggshell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rachel Carson wrote about the dangers of DDT.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x3:1
# text = Rachel Carson wrote about the dangers of DDT.
1	Rachel	Rachel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Carson	Carson	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dangers	danger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Rachel |  |  |  |  | about the dangers of DDT | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about danger=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DDT builds up in animals higher up the food chain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x4:1
# text = DDT builds up in animals higher up the food chain.
1	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	builds	build	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build up** | present | DDT |  |  |  |  | in animals | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many countries banned DDT for farming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x5:1
# text = Many countries banned DDT for farming.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	farming	farming	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 | **ban** | past | Many countries | DDT |  |  |  | for farming | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer ddt=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bald eagles recovered after DDT was banned in the USA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x6:1
# text = Bald eagles recovered after DDT was banned in the USA.
1	Bald	bald	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	eagles	eagle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	recovered	recover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	DDT	DDT	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **recover** | past | Bald eagles |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **ban** | past · passive |  | DDT |  | the USA |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DDT was once used to kill lice on soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x7:1
# text = DDT was once used to kill lice on soldiers.
1	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | DDT |  |  |  | once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **kill** | to-infinitive |  | lice |  | soldiers |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent louse=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some countries still use DDT inside homes to fight malaria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ddt:x8:1
# text = Some countries still use DDT inside homes to fight malaria.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	DDT	ddt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	homes	home	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	malaria	malaria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | some countries | DDT |  | homes | still |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ddt=Patient |
| 2 | **fight** | to-infinitive | some countries *not said here* | malaria |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent malaria=Co-Agent |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [dc](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dc/)
- next →: [deacon](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deacon/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)