---
title: dig — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dig» in the school dictionary: To dig is to make a hole in the ground, for example with a spade or with hands or paws. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dig

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dig, archaeologists, He, 3 workers, hole, dog · **What happens:** dig, be, dig up, find, dig in, mean · **To what, where:** something, ground, place, old things, little poke, 2 m · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dig» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [dig in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dig.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dig is to make a hole in the ground, for example with a spade or with hands or paws.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:m1:1
# text = To dig is to make a hole in the ground, for example with a spade or with hands or paws.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dig	dig	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	paws	paw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for example; with a spade or hands or paws | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with spade=Instrument |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | 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 dig something up is to get it out of the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:m2:1
# text = To dig something up is to get it out of the ground.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | the ground |  | get *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dig is a place where archaeologists dig to find old things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:m3:1
# text = A dig is a place where archaeologists dig to find old things.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dig	dig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	archaeologists	archaeologist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dig | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | present | archaeologists |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **find** | to-infinitive | archaeologists *not said here* | old things |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dig can be a little poke, or an unkind remark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:m4:1
# text = A dig can be a little poke, or an unkind remark.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dig	dig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	poke	poke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a dig | a little poke or a unkind remark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Dig in» means start eating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:m5:1
# text = «Dig in» means start eating.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Dig	dig	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
7	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig in** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **start** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He digs 2 m of ditch an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x1:1
# text = He digs 2 m of ditch an hour.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	digs	dig	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	m	m	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | present | He | 2 m of ditch |  |  | hour |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent m=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
3 workers dug 12 holes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x2:1
# text = 3 workers dug 12 holes.
1	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	holes	hole	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 | **dig** | past | 3 workers | 12 holes |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hole=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How long to dig 10 m?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x3:1
# text = How long to dig 10 m?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	m	m	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | to-infinitive |  | 10 m |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent m=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each hole needs 1 tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x4:1
# text = Each hole needs 1 tree.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	tree	tree	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 | **need** | present | each hole | 1 tree |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot tree=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog dug a hole and buried its bone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x5:1
# text = The dog dug a hole and buried its bone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	buried	bury	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | the dog | a hole |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hole=Theme |
| 2 | **bury** | past | the dog *not said here* | dog's bone |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bone=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We dug for treasure on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x6:1
# text = We dug for treasure on the beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | We |  |  | the beach |  | for treasure | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for treasure=Theme on beach=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Archaeologists dug up a Roman coin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x7:1
# text = Archaeologists dug up a Roman coin.
1	Archaeologists	archaeologist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | past | Archaeologists | a Roman coin |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coin=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinner's ready, dig in!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dig:x8:1
# text = Dinner's ready, dig in!
1	Dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dinner |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig in** | infinitive | Dinner *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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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