---
title: decompose — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decompose» in the school dictionary: To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants and animals do, with help from bacteria, fungi and small creatures. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decompose

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dead plants, shape, Leaves, Fungi, dead logs, banana peel · **What happens:** rot, break down, do, break, make, work · **To what, where:** substance, simpler parts, number, smaller parts, shape, soil

<!-- .vabout -->
«decompose» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [decompose in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decompose.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants and animals do, with help from bacteria, fungi and small creatures.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:m1:1
# text = To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants and animals do, with help from bacteria, fungi and small creatures.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rot	rot	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	bacteria	bacteria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rot** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **break down** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | present | dead plants and animals |  |  |  |  | with help from bacteria  fungi and small creatures | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
To break a substance into simpler parts or chemicals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:m2:1
# text = To break a substance into simpler parts or chemicals.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	simpler	simple	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | to-infinitive |  | a substance |  |  |  | into simpler parts or chemicals *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent substance=Patient into part=Result |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To break a number or shape into smaller parts to make it easier to work with, such as 47 = 40 + 7.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:m3:1
# text = To break a number or shape into smaller parts to make it easier to work with, such as 47 = 40 + 7.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	47	47	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	obl	_	_
21	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	22	case	_	_
22	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	20	nmod	_	_
23	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	24	cc	_	_
24	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | to-infinitive |  | a number or shape |  |  |  | into smaller parts *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent number=Patient into part=Result |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | shape |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 3 | **work** | to-infinitive | shape *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with 47 = 40 | vn cooperate-73.1-3 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme»: agent=Agent with 47=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaves decompose and turn into soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x1:1
# text = Leaves decompose and turn into soil.
1	Leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decompose	decompose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decompose** | present | Leaves |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | present | Leaves *not said here* |  |  | soil |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into soil=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fungi help dead logs decompose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x2:1
# text = Fungi help dead logs decompose.
1	Fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	logs	log	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	decompose	decompose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Fungi |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **decompose** | present | dead logs |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A banana peel decomposes faster than a plastic bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x3:1
# text = A banana peel decomposes faster than a plastic bag.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	peel	peel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	decomposes	decompose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decompose** | present | a banana peel |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decompose 58 into 50 and 8 to add it more easily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x4:1
# text = Decompose 58 into 50 and 8 to add it more easily.
1	Decompose	decompose	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	58	58	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obj	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
11	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decompose** | imperative | you *not said here* | 58 |  | 50 |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  | easily *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x5:1
# text = Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose.
1	Plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	decompose	decompose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | can | Plastic | hundreds of years |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hundred=Theme |
| 2 | **decompose** | to-infinitive | Plastic *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heat can decompose some chemicals into gases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x6:1
# text = Heat can decompose some chemicals into gases.
1	Heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	decompose	decompose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	gases	gas	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decompose** | can | Heat | some chemicals |  | gases |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched apples decompose in jars for our experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decompose:x7:1
# text = We watched apples decompose in jars for our experiment.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	decompose	decompose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	jars	jar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decompose** | present | apples |  |  | jars |  | for our experiment | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **experiment** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom experiment «act intransitive»: poss=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 -->
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