---
title: excavate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «excavate» in the school dictionary: To excavate means to dig carefully in the ground to find old things such as buildings, bones or tools. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# excavate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Archaeologists, They, Workers, class, Badgers · **What happens:** excavate, mean, dig, find, dig out, pretend · **To what, where:** ground, old things, hole, Roman villa, car park, dinosaur bones · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To excavate means to dig carefully in the ground to find old things such as buildings, bones or tools.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:m1:1
# text = To excavate means to dig carefully in the ground to find old things such as buildings, bones or tools.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	excavate	excavate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
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	5	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excavate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **dig** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the ground |  | carefully *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in ground=Location |
| 4 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | old things |  |  |  | such buildings and bones or tools | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |

<!-- .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 excavate means to dig out a hole, tunnel or area, for example for building.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:m2:1
# text = To excavate means to dig out a hole, tunnel or area, for example for building.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	excavate	excavate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	tunnel	tunnel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excavate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **dig out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a hole |  |  |  | for example; for building | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent hole=Result for example=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Archaeologists excavated a Roman villa under the car park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x1:1
# text = Archaeologists excavated a Roman villa under the car park.
1	Archaeologists	archaeologist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	excavated	excavate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	villa	villa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	park	park	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 | **excavate** | past | Archaeologists | a Roman villa |  | the car park |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent villa=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They are excavating the dinosaur bones slowly with brushes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x2:1
# text = They are excavating the dinosaur bones slowly with brushes.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	excavating	excavate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	brushes	brush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excavate** | present · progressive | They | the dinosaur bones |  |  |  | with brushes; slowly *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent bone=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers excavated the ground for the new swimming pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x3:1
# text = Workers excavated the ground for the new swimming pool.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	excavated	excavate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pool	pool	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 | **excavate** | past | Workers | the ground |  |  |  | for the new swimming pool | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent ground=Location for pool=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The site was excavated last summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x4:1
# text = The site was excavated last summer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	site	site	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	excavated	excavate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excavate** | past · passive |  | the site |  |  | summer |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class pretended to excavate a sandpit for buried treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x5:1
# text = Our class pretended to excavate a sandpit for buried treasure.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pretended	pretend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	excavate	excavate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sandpit	sandpit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | past | Our class |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **excavate** | to-infinitive | Our class *not said here* | a sandpit |  |  |  | for buried treasure | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent sandpit=Location for treasure=Theme |
| 3 | **bury** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Badgers excavate long tunnels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:excavate:x6:1
# text = Badgers excavate long tunnels.
1	Badgers	badger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	excavate	excavate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excavate** | present | Badgers | long tunnels |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent tunnel=Location |

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**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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