---
title: foundation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «foundation» in the school dictionary: The strong base under a building, usually under the ground, that holds it up. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foundation/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/) / foundation

# foundation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ground, organisation, Reading, builders, foundation, rumour · **What happens:** hold up, build, give, set up, be, dig · **To what, where:** ground, something, part, money, foundation, deep foundations · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The strong base under a building, usually under the ground, that holds it up.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m1:1
# text = The strong base under a building, usually under the ground, that holds it up.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	base	base	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	up	up	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold up** | present | the ground | ground |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
The basic idea or part on which something else is built.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m2:1
# text = The basic idea or part on which something else is built.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present · passive |  | something |  | part |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme on which=Source |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading is the foundation of learning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m2e:1
# text = Reading is the foundation of learning.
1	Reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	learning	learning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Reading | the foundation |  |  |  | of learning | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An organisation that gives money for good causes: a charity foundation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m3:1
# text = An organisation that gives money for good causes: a charity foundation.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	organisation	organisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	causes	cause	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	charity	charity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | a organisation | money |  |  |  | for good causes and a charity foundation | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent money=Theme for cause=Asset |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The starting or setting up of something: the foundation of the school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m4:1
# text = The starting or setting up of something: the foundation of the school.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starting	starting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	setting	set	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of something | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skin-coloured make-up cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:m5:1
# text = A skin-coloured make-up cream.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	make	make	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builders dug deep foundations for the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x1:1
# text = The builders dug deep foundations for the house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builders	builder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	foundations	foundation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	house	house	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 | **dig** | past | the builders | deep foundations |  |  |  | for the house | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent foundation=Result for house=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Counting is the foundation of maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x2:1
# text = Counting is the foundation of maths.
1	Counting	count	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | the foundation |  |  |  | of maths | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The foundation gave money to the hospital.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x3:1
# text = The foundation gave money to the hospital.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the foundation | money | the hospital |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent money=Theme to hospital=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rumour is without foundation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x4:1
# text = The rumour is without foundation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the rumour |  |  |  |  | without foundation | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister is in Foundation this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x5:1
# text = My little sister is in Foundation this year.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Foundation	Foundation	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My little sister | this year |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mayor laid the foundation stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x6:1
# text = The mayor laid the foundation stone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laid	lay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | past | the mayor | the foundation stone |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Result |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation for what you say.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:foundation:x7:1
# text = "I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation for what you say.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	confess	confess	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	vizir	vizir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	15	expl	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	17	det	_	_
17	foundation	foundation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	17	nmod	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confess** *in a quote* | present | the vizir *= vizir* | Prince |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prince=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the vizir |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | some foundation |  |  |  | for the vizir | tree rules |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [found](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/found/)
- next →: [founder](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/founder/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)