---
title: graffiti — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «graffiti» in the school dictionary: Words or pictures painted, sprayed or scratched on walls, trains or other public places, usually without permission. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# graffiti

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Words, council, graffiti artist, Writing, graffiti, class · **What happens:** paint, spray, scratch, make, cover, clean · **To what, where:** walls, bus shelter, graffiti, school wall, beautiful mural, wall

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Words or pictures painted, sprayed or scratched on walls, trains or other public places, usually without permission.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:m1:1
# text = Words or pictures painted, sprayed or scratched on walls, trains or other public places, usually without permission.
1	Words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	sprayed	spray	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	scratched	scratch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
19	without	without	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | participle | Words or pictures |  |  |  |  | without permission | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spray** | participle | Words or pictures *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **scratch** | participle | Words or pictures *not said here* |  |  | walls and trains or other public places |  |  | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent on wall=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 -->
Street art: large, colourful paintings on walls, sometimes made with permission.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:m2:1
# text = Street art: large, colourful paintings on walls, sometimes made with permission.
1	Street	Street	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	colourful	colourful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	paintings	painting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	12	advmod	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | walls *not said here* |  |  |  | with permission; sometimes *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus shelter was covered in graffiti.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x1:1
# text = The bus shelter was covered in graffiti.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | past · passive |  | the bus shelter |  |  |  | in graffiti | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in graffiti=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council cleaned the graffiti off the school wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x2:1
# text = The council cleaned the graffiti off the school wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cleaned	clean	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	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | past | the council | the graffiti |  | the school wall |  |  | vn clear-10.3 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent graffiti=Theme off wall=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A graffiti artist painted a beautiful mural with permission.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x3:1
# text = A graffiti artist painted a beautiful mural with permission.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	artist	artist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	mural	mural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | a graffiti artist | a beautiful mural |  |  |  | with permission | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: agent=Agent mural=Destination with permission=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Writing graffiti on someone's wall is against the law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x4:1
# text = Writing graffiti on someone's wall is against the law.
1	Writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | gerund |  | graffiti |  | someone's wall |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent graffiti=Theme on wall=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present | Writing |  |  |  |  | against the law | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was graffiti on the old train carriage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x5:1
# text = There was graffiti on the old train carriage.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	carriage	carriage	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 | **be** | past | graffiti |  |  | the old train carriage; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on carriage=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class designed a graffiti-style poster for art.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:graffiti:x6:1
# text = Our class designed a graffiti-style poster for art.
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	designed	design	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	graffiti	graffiti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	poster	poster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **design** | past | Our class | a style poster |  |  |  | for art | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent poster=Result for art=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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