---
title: destructive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «destructive» in the school dictionary: Destructive means causing a lot of damage or ruin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# destructive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Destructive, destructive person, storm, puppy, Earthquakes, Throwing · **What happens:** mean, cause, break, ruin, be, flatten · **To what, where:** lot, things, many houses, anger, destructive behaviour, history

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Destructive means causing a lot of damage or ruin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:m1:1
# text = Destructive means causing a lot of damage or ruin.
1	Destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ruin	ruin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Destructive |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | Destructive *not said here* | a lot of damage or ruin |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition lot=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 -->
A destructive person or animal often breaks or ruins things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:m2:1
# text = A destructive person or animal often breaks or ruins things.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ruins	ruin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present | a destructive person or animal |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **ruin** | present | a destructive person or animal *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm was very destructive and flattened many houses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x1:1
# text = The storm was very destructive and flattened many houses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	flattened	flatten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the storm |  |  |  |  | destructive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **flatten** | past | the storm *not said here* | many houses |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent house=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our puppy is destructive when she is bored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x2:1
# text = Our puppy is destructive when she is bored.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our puppy |  |  |  |  | destructive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | puppy |  |  |  |  | bored *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earthquakes can be extremely destructive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x3:1
# text = Earthquakes can be extremely destructive.
1	Earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Earthquakes |  |  |  |  | destructive, extremely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Throwing things in anger is destructive behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x4:1
# text = Throwing things in anger is destructive behaviour.
1	Throwing	throw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	behaviour	behaviour	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 | **throw** | gerund |  | things |  | anger |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent thing=Theme in anger=Destination |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Throwing | destructive behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some insects are destructive to crops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x5:1
# text = Some insects are destructive to crops.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some insects |  |  |  |  | to crops; destructive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fire was the most destructive in the town's history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x6:1
# text = The fire was the most destructive in the town's history.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fire |  |  | the town's history |  | destructive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rabbits can be destructive in a vegetable garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x7:1
# text = Rabbits can be destructive in a vegetable garden.
1	Rabbits	rabbit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Rabbits |  |  | a vegetable garden |  | destructive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:destructive:x8:1
# text = THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race.
1	THE	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	OXEN	oxen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	_
4	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	sought	seek	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	destroy	destroy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Butchers	butcher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	practiced	practice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	trade	trade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	destructive	destructive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seek** | participle | the OXEN upon a time |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **destroy** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the OXEN upon a time *not said here* | the Butchers |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butcher=Patient |
| 3 | **practice** | past | the Butchers | a trade |  |  |  | destructive *property* | vn rehearse-26.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trade=Theme |
| 4 | **race** |  | Butchers *= butcher* |  |  |  |  |  | nom race «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

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**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 -->

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