---
title: destroy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «destroy» in the school dictionary: To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it is ruined or no longer exists. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# destroy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, fire, storm, Cutting, dog, boiling water · **What happens:** destroy, mean, damage, ruin, exist, beat · **To what, where:** something, it, someone, hopes, old barn, many homes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it is ruined or no longer exists.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:m1:1
# text = To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it is ruined or no longer exists.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	ruined	ruin	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	no	no	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	17	advmod	_	_
17	exists	exist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **damage** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **ruin** | present · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 5 | **exist** | present |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To destroy can mean to completely beat someone in a game (informal).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:m2:1
# text = To destroy can mean to completely beat someone in a game (informal).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **beat** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | in a game; completely *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent someone=Patient in game=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To destroy someone's hopes or plans means to end them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:m3:1
# text = To destroy someone's hopes or plans means to end them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	hopes	hope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | to-infinitive |  | someone's hopes or plans |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **end** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | hopes *= hope* |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality they=Eventuality |
| 4 | **hope** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fire destroyed the old barn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x1:1
# text = The fire destroyed the old barn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | the fire | the old barn |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent barn=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm destroyed many homes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x2:1
# text = The storm destroyed many homes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	homes	home	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | the storm | many homes |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cutting down rainforests destroys animals' habitats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x3:1
# text = Cutting down rainforests destroys animals' habitats.
1	Cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	down	down	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	rainforests	rainforest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	destroys	destroy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	habitats	habitat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut down** | gerund |  | rainforests |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rainforest=Product |
| 2 | **destroy** | present | Cutting | animals's habitats |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent habitat=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog destroyed my slippers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x4:1
# text = The dog destroyed my slippers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	slippers	slipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | the dog | my slippers |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slipper=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bacteria are destroyed by boiling water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x5:1
# text = Bacteria are destroyed by boiling water.
1	Bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	boiling	boil	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	water	water	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 | **destroy** | present · passive | boiling water | Bacteria |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **boil** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team destroyed them 10–0!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x6:1
# text = Our team destroyed them 10–0!
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | Our team | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news destroyed his hopes of winning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x7:1
# text = The news destroyed his hopes of winning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	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	hopes	hope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	winning	win	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | the news | news's hopes |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | gerund | news's hopes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hope** |  | news |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shred old letters to destroy your details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x8:1
# text = Shred old letters to destroy your details.
1	Shred	shred	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shred** | imperative | you *not said here* | old letters |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |
| 2 | **destroy** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your details |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent detail=Patient |
| 3 | **detail** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom detail «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shall we never be able to destroy him?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destroy:x9:1
# text = Shall we never be able to destroy him?
1	Shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | shall | we |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **destroy** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=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 -->
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