---
title: decomposition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decomposition» in the school dictionary: The natural breaking down of dead plants and animals into simpler things, by bacteria, fungi and worms; rotting. 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/decomposition/)

<!-- 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/) / decomposition

# decomposition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** natural breaking, Fallen leaves, Worms, Decomposition, you, We · **What happens:** rot, break, turn, help, be, use · **To what, where:** number, smaller parts, soil, decomposition, area, rocks

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The natural breaking down of dead plants and animals into simpler things, by bacteria, fungi and worms; rotting.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:m1:1
# text = The natural breaking down of dead plants and animals into simpler things, by bacteria, fungi and worms; rotting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	breaking	breaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	simpler	simple	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
21	rotting	rot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rot** | gerund | the natural breaking down dead plants into simpler things and animals and bacteria and fungi and worms |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breaking a number or shape into smaller parts (partitioning).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:m2:1
# text = Breaking a number or shape into smaller parts (partitioning).
1	Breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	partitioning	partitioning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The breaking of a substance into simpler substances by a chemical reaction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:m3:1
# text = The breaking of a substance into simpler substances by a chemical reaction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	breaking	breaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	simpler	simple	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	substances	substance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	reaction	reaction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fallen leaves turn into soil by decomposition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x1:1
# text = Fallen leaves turn into soil by decomposition.
1	Fallen	fallen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | Fallen leaves |  |  | soil |  | by decomposition | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme into soil=Source by decomposition=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms and fungi help decomposition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x2:1
# text = Worms and fungi help decomposition.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Worms and fungi | decomposition |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decomposition=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decomposition is faster when it is warm and damp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x3:1
# text = Decomposition is faster when it is warm and damp.
1	Decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	faster	fast	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Decomposition |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Decomposition |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Decomposition *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use decomposition: 36 = 30 + 6.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x4:1
# text = Use decomposition: 36 = 30 + 6.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	36	36	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	appos	_	_
5	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	6	case	_	_
6	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	8	cc	_	_
8	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | decomposition |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decomposition=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used decomposition to find the area of the L-shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x5:1
# text = We used decomposition to find the area of the L-shape.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	L	l	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | decomposition |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decomposition=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the area of the L shape |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent area=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heating some rocks causes thermal decomposition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decomposition:x6:1
# text = Heating some rocks causes thermal decomposition.
1	Heating	heat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	csubj	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	thermal	thermal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	decomposition	decomposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **heat** | gerund |  | some rocks |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent rock=Patient |
| 2 | **cause** | present | Heating | thermal decomposition |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition decomposition=Patient |

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