---
title: digging — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «digging» in the school dictionary: The action of making a hole in the ground or moving earth, with a spade, hands, paws or a machine. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# digging

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** action, dog, We, Scientists, Digging, Grandad · **What happens:** make, move, search, dig, spend, be · **To what, where:** hole, ground, earth, garden, deep holes, sand

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«digging» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [digging in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/digging.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The action of making a hole in the ground or moving earth, with a spade, hands, paws or a machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:m1:1
# text = The action of making a hole in the ground or moving earth, with a spade, hands, paws or a machine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
12	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
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	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	paws	paw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund | the action *not said here* | a hole |  | the ground |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |
| 2 | **move** | gerund | the action *not said here* | earth |  |  |  | with a spade and hands and paws or a machine | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent earth=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 -->
Searching hard for something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:m2:1
# text = Searching hard for something.
1	Searching	search	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for something; hard *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for something=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"digging for information".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:m2e:1
# text = "digging for information".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for information | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for information=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog is digging in the garden again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x1:1
# text = The dog is digging in the garden again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | present · progressive | the dog |  |  | the garden | again |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in garden=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We spent the afternoon digging at the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x2:1
# text = We spent the afternoon digging at the beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | We |  |  |  | afternoon |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dig** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the beach | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at beach=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists are digging for dinosaur bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x3:1
# text = Scientists are digging for dinosaur bones.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | present · progressive | Scientists |  |  |  |  | for dinosaur bones | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for bone=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Digging deep holes in sand can be dangerous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x4:1
# text = Digging deep holes in sand can be dangerous.
1	Digging	dig	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | gerund |  | deep holes |  | sand |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent hole=Theme in sand=Location |
| 2 | **is** | can | Digging |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad is digging a vegetable patch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x5:1
# text = Grandad is digging a vegetable patch.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	patch	patch	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 | **dig** | present · progressive | Grandad | a vegetable patch |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent patch=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep digging until you find the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:digging:x6:1
# text = Keep digging until you find the answer.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **find** | present | you | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

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