---
title: gray — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gray» in the school dictionary: Gray is the colour between black and white, like ash or rain clouds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gray

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Gray, gray area, sky, you, hair, elephant · **What happens:** be, describe, gray, mean, turn, start · **To what, where:** colour, dull cloudy weather, hair, gray, something, rain · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«gray» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [gray in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gray.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gray is the colour between black and white, like ash or rain clouds.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:m1:1
# text = Gray is the colour between black and white, like ash or rain clouds.
1	Gray	Gray	PROPN	NNP	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	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	ash	ash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gray | the colour and ash clouds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Gray describes dull, cloudy weather or a dull, boring feeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:m2:1
# text = Gray describes dull, cloudy weather or a dull, boring feeling.
1	Gray	Gray	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	cloudy	cloudy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Gray | dull cloudy weather or a dull boring feeling |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent weather=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To gray (of hair) means to turn gray with age.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:m3:1
# text = To gray (of hair) means to turn gray with age.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	gray	gray	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
10	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	age	age	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gray** | to-infinitive |  | hair |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **turn** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | gray |  |  | with age |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent gray=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gray area is something not clearly right or wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:m4:1
# text = A gray area is something not clearly right or wrong.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a gray area | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sky was gray and it started to rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x1:1
# text = The sky was gray and it started to rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	gray	gray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the sky |  |  |  |  | gray *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | past | sky | rain |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rain=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mix black and white to make gray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x2:1
# text = Mix black and white to make gray.
1	Mix	mix	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix** | imperative | you *not said here* | black |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent black=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | gray |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset gray=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa's hair is turning gray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x3:1
# text = Grandpa's hair is turning gray.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present · progressive | Grandpa's hair | gray |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent gray=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elephant is gray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x4:1
# text = An elephant is gray.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use your gray matter — think!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x5:1
# text = Use your gray matter — think!
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	gray	gray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	matter	matter	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | your gray |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gray=Patient |
| 2 | **matter** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whether that is cheating is a gray area.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x6:1
# text = Whether that is cheating is a gray area.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	gray	gray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	area	area	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 |  | that cheating |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | that cheating | a gray area |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was so gray and old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gray:x7:1
# text = It was so gray and old.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	gray	gray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | gray *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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