---
title: disaster — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «disaster» in the school dictionary: A disaster is a terrible event that causes a lot of damage, suffering or death, like an earthquake, flood or big crash. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# disaster

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** disaster, terrible event, flood, first try, Our, trip · **What happens:** be, cause, go, fail, try, end · **To what, where:** terrible event, lot, something, natural disaster, disaster, cake

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A disaster is a terrible event that causes a lot of damage, suffering or death, like an earthquake, flood or big crash.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:m1:1
# text = A disaster is a terrible event that causes a lot of damage, suffering or death, like an earthquake, flood or big crash.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a disaster | a terrible event |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | present | a terrible event | a lot of damage and suffering or death |  |  |  |  | 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 disaster is something that goes very badly or fails completely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:m2:1
# text = A disaster is something that goes very badly or fails completely.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	fails	fail	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a disaster | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present |  |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **fail** | present |  |  |  |  |  | completely *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flood was a natural disaster for the whole town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x1:1
# text = The flood was a natural disaster for the whole town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the flood | a natural disaster |  |  |  | for the whole town | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our first try at the cake was a disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x2:1
# text = Our first try at the cake was a disaster.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	try	try	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Our first try at the cake | a disaster |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** |  | Our |  |  | the cake |  |  | nom try «act transitive»: poss=agent at=place |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip ended in disaster when the bus broke down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x3:1
# text = The trip ended in disaster when the bus broke down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the trip |  |  | disaster |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **break down** | past | the bus |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People gave money to help the disaster victims.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x4:1
# text = People gave money to help the disaster victims.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	victims	victim	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | People | money |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | People *not said here* | the disaster victims |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent victim=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Know your family's plan in case of a disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x5:1
# text = Know your family's plan in case of a disaster.
1	Know	know	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | imperative | you *not said here* | your family's plan |  | case of a disaster |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer plan=Stimulus |
| 2 | **plan** |  | your family |  |  | case of a disaster |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent in=place |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The play was nearly a disaster, but we saved it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x6:1
# text = The play was nearly a disaster, but we saved it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the play | a disaster |  |  |  | nearly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | past | we | play |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study earthquakes to prevent disasters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x7:1
# text = Scientists study earthquakes to prevent disasters.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	prevent	prevent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	disasters	disaster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | earthquakes |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earthquake=Topic |
| 2 | **prevent** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | disasters |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer disaster=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
False confidence often leads to disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disaster:x8:1
# text = False confidence often leads to disaster.
1	False	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	confidence	confidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	disaster	disaster	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 | **lead** | present | False confidence |  |  |  |  | to disaster; often *property* | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to disaster=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 -->

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