---
title: desert — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «desert» in the school dictionary: A desert (DEZ-ert) is a large area of land that gets very little rain, so few plants grow; it may be sandy, rocky, hot or cold. 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/desert/)

<!-- 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/) / desert

# desert

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** desert, that, few plants, you, deserted place, Sahara · **What happens:** be, get, grow, not come back, stay, have · **To what, where:** large area, little rain, nobody, it, huge hot desert, desert

<!-- .vabout -->
«desert» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [desert in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desert.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A desert (DEZ-ert) is a large area of land that gets very little rain, so few plants grow; it may be sandy, rocky, hot or cold.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:m1:1
# text = A desert (DEZ-ert) is a large area of land that gets very little rain, so few plants grow; it may be sandy, rocky, hot or cold.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	DEZ	DEZ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	ert	ert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	so	so	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
21	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nsubj	_	_
23	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
26	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	28	aux	_	_
27	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	28	cop	_	_
28	sandy	sandy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	rocky	rocky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	conj	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
34	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a desert | a large area |  |  |  | of land | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | that | little rain |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rain=Stimulus |
| 3 | **grow** | present | few plants |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | may | desert |  |  |  |  | sandy *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | desert *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | desert *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **be** |  | desert *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To desert (di-ZURT) someone or somewhere is to leave and not come back, when you should stay.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:m2:1
# text = To desert (di-ZURT) someone or somewhere is to leave and not come back, when you should stay.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	di	di	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	ZURT	ZURT	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	8	conj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
17	back	back	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	22	advmod	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
21	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | desert |  |  |  |  | leave *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **come back** | infinitive | desert *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **stay** | should | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deserted place has nobody in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:m3:1
# text = A deserted place has nobody in it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	deserted	deserted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a deserted place | nobody |  | it |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nobody=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sahara is a huge hot desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x1:1
# text = The Sahara is a huge hot desert.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sahara	Sahara	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Sahara | a huge hot desert |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cacti grow in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x2:1
# text = Cacti grow in the desert.
1	Cacti	cactus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Cacti |  |  | the desert |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in desert=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Camels can go days without water in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x3:1
# text = Camels can go days without water in the desert.
1	Camels	camel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | can | Camels |  |  | the desert | day | without water | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in desert=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Antarctica is a cold desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x4:1
# text = Antarctica is a cold desert.
1	Antarctica	Antarctica	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Antarctica | a cold desert |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take lots of water when you visit the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x5:1
# text = Take lots of water when you visit the desert.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	visit	visit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | lots of water |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |
| 2 | **visit** | present | you | the desert |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent desert=Co-Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier deserted his post.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x6:1
# text = The soldier deserted his post.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	deserted	desert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **desert** | past | the soldier | soldier's post |  |  |  |  | vn leave-51.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme post=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The beach was deserted in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x7:1
# text = The beach was deserted in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	deserted	desert	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **desert** | past · passive |  | the beach |  |  | winter |  | vn leave-51.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: subject=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Imagine you are on a desert island.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x8:1
# text = Imagine you are on a desert island.
1	Imagine	imagine	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imagine** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  | a desert island |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now the desert lies behind them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desert:x9:1
# text = Now the desert lies behind them.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | the desert |  |  |  | now | behind them *= they* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent behind they=Location |

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