---
title: foil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «foil» in the school dictionary: Metal, usually aluminium, made into a very thin sheet, used to wrap and cook food. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# foil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fencing, police, you, detective, thief, villain · **What happens:** make, use, wrap, cook, stop, do · **To what, where:** aluminium, thin sheet, food, someone, bad plan, light thin sword · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«foil» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [foil in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/foil.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Metal, usually aluminium, made into a very thin sheet, used to wrap and cook food.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:m1:1
# text = Metal, usually aluminium, made into a very thin sheet, used to wrap and cook food.
1	Metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	aluminium	aluminium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	sheet	sheet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	wrap	wrap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	cook	cook	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
18	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | aluminium *not said here* |  | a thin sheet |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent into sheet=Product |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a thin sheet *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **wrap** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **cook** | infinitive |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent food=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 -->
As a verb, to stop someone from doing a bad plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:m2:1
# text = As a verb, to stop someone from doing a bad plan.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | as a verb | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality someone=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | a bad plan |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Eventuality |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The police foiled the robbery."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:m2e:1
# text = "The police foiled the robbery."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	foiled	foil	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	robbery	robbery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **foil** *in a quote* | past | the police | the robbery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A light thin sword used in the sport of fencing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:m3:1
# text = A light thin sword used in the sport of fencing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	fencing	fencing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a light thin sword *not said here* |  | the sport of fencing |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sport** |  | fencing |  |  |  |  |  | nom sport «act intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wrap the sandwiches in foil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x1:1
# text = Wrap the sandwiches in foil.
1	Wrap	wrap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sandwiches	sandwich	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	foil	foil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | imperative | you *not said here* | the sandwiches |  | foil |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent sandwich=Theme in foil=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cover the dish with foil and bake it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x2:1
# text = Cover the dish with foil and bake it.
1	Cover	cover	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dish	dish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	foil	foil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bake	bake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dish |  |  |  | with foil | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent dish=Destination with foil=Theme |
| 2 | **bake** | infinitive | you *not said here* | dish |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never put foil in the microwave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x3:1
# text = Never put foil in the microwave.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	foil	foil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	microwave	microwave	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 | **not** **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | foil |  | the microwave |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent foil=Theme in microwave=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective foiled the thief's plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x4:1
# text = The detective foiled the thief's plan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	foiled	foil	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	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **foil** | past | the detective | the thief's plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | the thief |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Foiled again!" shouted the villain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x5:1
# text = "Foiled again!" shouted the villain.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Foiled	foil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
3	again	again	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **foil** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  | again |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Foil is a good conductor of electricity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x6:1
# text = Foil is a good conductor of electricity.
1	Foil	foil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	conductor	conductor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Foil | a good conductor |  |  |  | of electricity | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Once more she went to her Fairy-godmother who, astonished that her plan had been foiled, now told her to ask for another gown the colour of the moon.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foil:x7:1
# text = Once more she went to her Fairy-godmother who, astonished that her plan had been foiled, now told her to ask for another gown the colour of the moon.
1	Once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	_
2	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	Fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	godmother	godmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	astonished	astonish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
14	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	foiled	foil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	21	advmod	_	_
21	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
22	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	iobj	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	_
25	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	27	det	_	_
27	gown	gown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
30	of	of	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | she |  |  | her Fairy godmother |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to godmother=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **astonish** | past | her Fairy godmother |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **foil** | past · perfect · passive |  | her plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | she *not said here* |  | her *= she* |  | now |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent she=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 5 | **ask** *speech: ask* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | she *not said here* | the colour of the moon |  |  |  | for another gown | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent colour=Recipient |
| 6 | **plan** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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