---
title: ditch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ditch» in the school dictionary: A ditch is a long narrow hole dug in the ground, often along a road or field for water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ditch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ditch, They, many days, 2 workers, car, Frogs · **What happens:** be, dig, ditch, leave, finish, slide off · **To what, where:** long narrow hole, ground, something, it, plane, water

<!-- .vabout -->
«ditch» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [ditch in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ditch.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ditch is a long narrow hole dug in the ground, often along a road or field for water.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:m1:1
# text = A ditch is a long narrow hole dug in the ground, often along a road or field for water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	along	along	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ditch | a long narrow hole and a road for water or field |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | participle |  | a long narrow hole and a road for water or field *not said here* |  | the ground |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in ground=Location |

<!-- .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 ditch something is to get rid of it or leave it (informal).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:m2:1
# text = To ditch something is to get rid of it or leave it (informal).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ditch	ditch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	rid	rid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ditch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | get, rid *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **leave** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | informal *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ditch a plane is to land it on water in an emergency.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:m3:1
# text = To ditch a plane is to land it on water in an emergency.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ditch	ditch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
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	land	land	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	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	emergency	emergency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ditch** | to-infinitive |  | a plane |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | water |  | in a emergency; land *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They dig a ditch 60 metres long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x1:1
# text = They dig a ditch 60 metres long.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each day they dig 12 metres of the ditch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x2:1
# text = Each day they dig 12 metres of the ditch.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | present | they | 12 metres of the ditch |  |  | day |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent metre=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many days to finish the ditch?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x3:1
# text = How many days to finish the ditch?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	finish	finish	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | to-infinitive | many days | the ditch |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality ditch=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
2 workers dig the ditch together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x4:1
# text = 2 workers dig the ditch together.
1	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car slid off the icy road into a ditch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x5:1
# text = The car slid off the icy road into a ditch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slid	slide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slide off** | past | the car | the icy road |  | a ditch |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location road=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frogs live in the muddy ditch by the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x6:1
# text = Frogs live in the muddy ditch by the field.
1	Frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Frogs |  |  | the muddy ditch |  | by the field | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in ditch=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He ditched his old bike and bought a new one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x7:1
# text = He ditched his old bike and bought a new one.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ditched	ditch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ditch** | past | He | his old bike |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | past | He *not said here* | a new one |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rainwater runs along the ditch into the stream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x8:1
# text = Rainwater runs along the ditch into the stream.
1	Rainwater	rainwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	along	along	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | Rainwater |  |  |  |  | into the stream *result*; along the ditch | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into stream=Result |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Caw! caw! a crow flew up from the ditch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ditch:x9:1
# text = Caw! caw! a crow flew up from the ditch.
1	Caw	caw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
3	caw	caw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly up** | past | Caw caw |  |  | the ditch |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from ditch=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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