---
title: gunboat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gunboat» in the school dictionary: A small warship with big guns, used especially on rivers or near the coast. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gunboat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Gunboat diplomacy, strong country, gunboat, navy, Historians, this · **What happens:** use, mean, force, agree, threaten, sail up · **To what, where:** big guns, rivers, strong country, weaker ones, navy, river · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small warship with big guns, used especially on rivers or near the coast.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:m1:1
# text = A small warship with big guns, used especially on rivers or near the coast.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	warship	warship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	guns	gun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	near	near	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | big guns *not said here* |  | rivers or the coast |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
«Gunboat diplomacy» means a strong country forcing weaker ones to agree by threatening to use its navy or army.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:m2:1
# text = «Gunboat diplomacy» means a strong country forcing weaker ones to agree by threatening to use its navy or army.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Gunboat	gunboat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	diplomacy	diplomacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	forcing	force	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	agree	agree	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	_
14	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	threatening	threaten	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	navy	navy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Gunboat diplomacy | a strong country |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent country=Topic |
| 2 | **force** | gerund | a strong country *not said here* | weaker ones |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Recipient |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | to-infinitive | a strong country *not said here* | weaker ones *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **threaten** | gerund | a strong country *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **use** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a strong country *not said here* | diplomacy's navy or army |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent navy=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gunboat sailed up the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x1:1
# text = A gunboat sailed up the river.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gunboat	gunboat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	sailed	sail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sail up** | participle | a gunboat *not said here* | the river |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The navy sent two gunboats to guard the harbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x2:1
# text = The navy sent two gunboats to guard the harbour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	navy	navy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	gunboats	gunboat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	guard	guard	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the navy | two gunboats |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gunboat=Theme |
| 2 | **guard** | to-infinitive | the navy *not said here* | the harbour |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harbour=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gunboat's guns pointed at the shore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x3:1
# text = The gunboat's guns pointed at the shore.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gunboat	gunboat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	guns	gun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  | the gunboat's guns *not said here* |  | the shore |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Historians call this «gunboat diplomacy».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x4:1
# text = Historians call this «gunboat diplomacy».
1	Historians	historian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	gunboat	gunboat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	diplomacy	diplomacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *speech: assert* | present | Historians |  |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **diplomacy** *in a quote* |  | this |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gunboats were used in the Opium Wars in China.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x5:1
# text = Gunboats were used in the Opium Wars in China.
1	Gunboats	gunboat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Opium	Opium	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Wars	War	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	China	China	PROPN	NNP	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 | **use** | past · passive |  | Gunboats |  | the Opium Wars |  | in China | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The model gunboat had tiny cannons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gunboat:x6:1
# text = The model gunboat had tiny cannons.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	gunboat	gunboat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cannons	cannon	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 | **have** | past | the model gunboat | tiny cannons |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cannon=Patient |

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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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