---
title: gravedigger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gravedigger» in the school dictionary: A person whose job is to dig graves in a cemetery for burying the dead. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gravedigger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, gravedigger, most gravediggers, village gravedigger, Deirdre, gravediggers · **What happens:** be, bury, job, bring, work, use · **To what, where:** cemetery, dead, small diggers, strange box, story, flowers

<!-- .vabout -->
«gravedigger» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [gravedigger in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gravedigger.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person whose job is to dig graves in a cemetery for burying the dead.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:m1:1
# text = A person whose job is to dig graves in a cemetery for burying the dead.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	graves	grave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cemetery	cemetery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	burying	bury	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person |  |  | a cemetery |  | dig *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bury** | gerund | a person *not said here* | the dead |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dead=Theme |
| 3 | **job** |  | a person |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Someone or something that brings about the end of something (figurative).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:m2:1
# text = Someone or something that brings about the end of something (figurative).
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	conj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	figurative	figurative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | present |  |  |  |  | about the end of something |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gravedigger worked quietly in the churchyard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x1:1
# text = The gravedigger worked quietly in the churchyard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gravedigger	gravedigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	churchyard	churchyard	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 | **work** | past | the gravedigger |  |  |  |  | in the churchyard; quietly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in churchyard=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nowadays most gravediggers use small diggers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x2:1
# text = Nowadays most gravediggers use small diggers.
1	Nowadays	nowadays	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	gravediggers	gravedigger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	diggers	digger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | most gravediggers | small diggers |  |  |  | nowadays *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent digger=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story the gravedigger found a strange box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x3:1
# text = In the story the gravedigger found a strange box.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gravedigger	gravedigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the gravedigger | a strange box |  | the story |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent box=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gravedigger tidied the flowers after the funeral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x4:1
# text = The gravedigger tidied the flowers after the funeral.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gravedigger	gravedigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tidied	tidy	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	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	funeral	funeral	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 | **tidy** | past | the gravedigger | the flowers |  |  | after the funeral |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being a gravedigger is hard but important work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x5:1
# text = Being a gravedigger is hard but important work.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	gravedigger	gravedigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | a gravedigger |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a gravedigger |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The village gravedigger also looked after the church garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x6:1
# text = The village gravedigger also looked after the church garden.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	gravedigger	gravedigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the village gravedigger |  |  |  | after the church garden |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deirdre kept sitting on the brink of the grave, constantly asking the gravediggers to dig the pit wide and free.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gravedigger:x7:1
# text = Deirdre kept sitting on the brink of the grave, constantly asking the gravediggers to dig the pit wide and free.
1	Deirdre	Deirdre	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brink	brink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	grave	grave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	constantly	constantly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	gravediggers	gravedigger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	pit	pit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Deirdre |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | gerund | Deirdre *not said here* |  |  | the brink of the grave |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on brink=Location |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | Deirdre *not said here* | the gravediggers |  |  |  | constantly *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent gravedigger=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **dig** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the gravediggers *not said here* | the pit |  |  |  | wide *property* | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent pit=Theme |

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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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