---
title: distribute — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «distribute» in the school dictionary: To give or share things out among a number of people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# distribute

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** teacher, you, company, table, Volunteers, wind · **What happens:** give, share out, spread, deliver, share, distribute · **To what, where:** things, something, area, goods, shops, total

<!-- .vabout -->
«distribute» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [distribute in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/distribute.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give or share things out among a number of people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m1:1
# text = To give or share things out among a number of people.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	share	share	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
7	among	among	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **share out** | infinitive |  | things |  |  |  | among a number of people | 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.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher distributed the books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m1e:1
# text = The teacher distributed the books.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	distributed	distribute	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	books	book	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 | **distribute** | past | the teacher | the books |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent book=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spread something over an area.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m2:1
# text = To spread something over an area.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | to-infinitive |  | something |  | a area |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent something=Theme over area=Destination |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Distribute the seeds evenly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m2e:1
# text = Distribute the seeds evenly.
1	Distribute	distribute	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	evenly	evenly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | imperative | you *not said here* | the seeds |  |  |  | evenly *property* | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent seed=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deliver goods to shops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m3:1
# text = To deliver goods to shops.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deliver	deliver	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | to-infinitive |  | goods |  | shops |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent goods=Theme to shop=Destination |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company distributes food to supermarkets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m3e:1
# text = The company distributes food to supermarkets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	distributes	distribute	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	supermarkets	supermarket	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 | **distribute** | present | the company | food | supermarkets |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent food=Theme to supermarket=Recipient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To share a total into groups or parts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:m4:1
# text = To share a total into groups or parts.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	share	share	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	total	total	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | to-infinitive |  | a total |  | groups or parts |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher distributed 30 pencils equally among 6 tables, so each table got 5.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x1:1
# text = The teacher distributed 30 pencils equally among 6 tables, so each table got 5.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	distributed	distribute	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	pencils	pencil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	equally	equally	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	among	among	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
15	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | past | the teacher | 30 pencils |  |  |  | among 6 tables; equally *property* | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme among table=Recipient |
| 2 | **get** | past | each table | 5 |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer 5=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Volunteers distributed food to families.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x2:1
# text = Volunteers distributed food to families.
1	Volunteers	volunteer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	distributed	distribute	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | past | Volunteers | food | families |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent food=Theme to family=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Distribute the icing evenly over the cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x3:1
# text = Distribute the icing evenly over the cake.
1	Distribute	distribute	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	icing	icing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	evenly	evenly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | imperative | you *not said here* | the icing |  | the cake |  | evenly *property* | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent icing=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company distributes milk to shops in the town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x4:1
# text = The company distributes milk to shops in the town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	distributes	distribute	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | present | the company | milk | shops | the town |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent milk=Theme to shop=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please distribute these leaflets to every house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x5:1
# text = Please distribute these leaflets to every house.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	distribute	distribute	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	leaflets	leaflet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	house	house	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 | **distribute** | imperative | you *not said here* | this leaflets | every house |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent leaflet=Theme to house=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prize money was distributed among the winners.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x6:1
# text = The prize money was distributed among the winners.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	distributed	distribute	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	among	among	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	winners	winner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | past · passive |  | the prize money |  |  |  | among the winners | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: subject=Theme among winner=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seeds are distributed by wind and birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x7:1
# text = Seeds are distributed by wind and birds.
1	Seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	distributed	distribute	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distribute** | present · passive | wind and birds | Seeds |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Well, they dug up both the pots, and began to distribute the money among the poor.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distribute:x8:1
# text = Well, they dug up both the pots, and began to distribute the money among the poor.
1	Well	well	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	both	both	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc:preconj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	distribute	distribute	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	among	among	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | past | they | the pots |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent pot=Theme |
| 2 | **begin** | past | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **distribute** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* | the money |  |  |  | among the poor | vn contribute-13.2-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent money=Theme among poor=Recipient |

<!-- 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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