---
title: flow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flow» in the school dictionary: Of a liquid, gas or electricity: to move along smoothly and steadily in one direction. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** traffic, river, air, Rivers, Water, Liquids · **What happens:** move along, move, come, flow, hang down, sound · **To what, where:** one direction, something, sea, shape, wires, fast flowing water

<!-- .vabout -->
«flow» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [flow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a liquid, gas or electricity: to move along smoothly and steadily in one direction.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:m1:1
# text = Of a liquid, gas or electricity: to move along smoothly and steadily in one direction.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	along	along	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	smoothly	smoothly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	steadily	steadily	ADV	RB	_	12	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move along** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | one direction |  | of a liquid and gas or electricity; along, smoothly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme of liquid=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 -->
Of people, traffic or ideas: to move or come continuously: «The traffic flowed smoothly».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:m2:1
# text = Of people, traffic or ideas: to move or come continuously: «The traffic flowed smoothly».
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	continuously	continuously	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	flowed	flow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
18	smoothly	smoothly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | continuously *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **flow** *in a quote* | past | the traffic |  |  |  |  | smoothly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of hair or clothes: to hang down loosely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:m3:1
# text = Of hair or clothes: to hang down loosely.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	hang	hang	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	loosely	loosely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang down** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of hair or clothes; loosely *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A noun: a steady movement of something: the flow of a river, a flow of air.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:m4:1
# text = A noun: a steady movement of something: the flow of a river, a flow of air.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom movement «act transitive»: of=patient |
| 2 | **flow** |  | a river |  |  |  |  |  | nom flow «event intransitive»: of=agent |
| 3 | **flow** |  | air |  |  |  |  |  | nom flow «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of speech or writing: to sound smooth and natural.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:m5:1
# text = Of speech or writing: to sound smooth and natural.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	sound	sound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | smooth *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rivers flow into the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x1:1
# text = Rivers flow into the sea.
1	Rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flow	flow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | present | Rivers |  |  | the sea |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water flows downhill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x2:1
# text = Water flows downhill.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	downhill	downhill	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | present | Water |  |  |  |  | downhill *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liquids can flow, but solids keep their shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x3:1
# text = Liquids can flow, but solids keep their shape.
1	Liquids	liquid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	flow	flow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	solids	solid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | can | Liquids |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | solids | solids's shape |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Electricity flows through the wires when the circuit is complete.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x4:1
# text = Electricity flows through the wires when the circuit is complete.
1	Electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	circuit	circuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | present | Electricity |  |  | the wires |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through wire=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | the circuit |  |  |  |  | complete *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't swim in fast-flowing water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x5:1
# text = Don't swim in fast-flowing water.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	swim	swim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	flowing	flow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **swim** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | fast flowing water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in water=Trajectory |
| 2 | **flow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blood flows around your body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x6:1
# text = Blood flows around your body.
1	Blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | present | Blood |  |  | your body |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around body=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her long hair flowed down her back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x7:1
# text = Her long hair flowed down her back.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	flowed	flow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | participle | Her long hair |  |  |  |  | down hair's back | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Make a flow chart to show the steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x8:1
# text = Make a flow chart to show the steps.
1	Make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	chart	chart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | a flow chart |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset chart=Product |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the steps |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent step=Recipient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In and out of it flowed water like attar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flow:x9:1
# text = In and out of it flowed water like attar.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	1	cc	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	flowed	flow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	attar	attar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | past | it | water |  |  |  | like attar | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location water=Theme |

<!-- 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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