---
title: hardness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hardness» in the school dictionary: Hardness is how hard something is: how well it resists being scratched, dented or pressed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hardness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Hardness, We, Diamond, wood, Talc, Hard water · **What happens:** be, resist, scratch, dent, press, mean · **To what, where:** many minerals, Hardness, rocks, greatest hardness, wood, nail

<!-- .vabout -->
«hardness» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [hardness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hardness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardness is how hard something is: how well it resists being scratched, dented or pressed.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:m1:1
# text = Hardness is how hard something is: how well it resists being scratched, dented or pressed.
1	Hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	resists	resist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	scratched	scratch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	dented	dent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	advcl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	pressed	press	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Hardness |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **resist** | present | Hardness |  |  |  |  | well *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **scratch** | gerund · passive | Hardness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V» |
| 4 | **dent** | participle | Hardness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **press** | participle | Hardness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: 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 -->
Hardness of water means how many minerals, like calcium, are dissolved in it.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:m2:1
# text = Hardness of water means how many minerals, like calcium, are dissolved in it.
1	Hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	minerals	mineral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	calcium	calcium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	dissolved	dissolve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Hardness of water | many minerals |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mineral=Topic |
| 2 | **dissolve** | present · passive |  |  |  | Hardness |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V» |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardness can mean being harsh or unkind (hardness of heart).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:m3:1
# text = Hardness can mean being harsh or unkind (hardness of heart).
1	Hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Hardness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | harsh *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested the hardness of different rocks by scratching them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x1:1
# text = We tested the hardness of different rocks by scratching them.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	scratching	scratch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We | the hardness of different rocks |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hardness=Theme |
| 2 | **scratch** | gerund | We *not said here* | rocks *= rock* |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Diamond has the greatest hardness of any natural material.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x2:1
# text = Diamond has the greatest hardness of any natural material.
1	Diamond	diamond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	greatest	great	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
8	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Diamond | the greatest hardness of any natural material |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hardness=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hardness of the wood made it difficult to hammer a nail in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x3:1
# text = The hardness of the wood made it difficult to hammer a nail in.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	hammer	hammer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the hardness of the wood | wood |  |  |  | difficult *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 2 | **hammer in** | to-infinitive | wood *not said here* | a nail |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nail=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talc is at the bottom of the hardness scale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x4:1
# text = Talc is at the bottom of the hardness scale.
1	Talc	talc	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Talc |  |  | the bottom |  | of the hardness scale | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard water leaves white marks in the kettle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x5:1
# text = Hard water leaves white marks in the kettle.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kettle	kettle	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 | **leave** | present | Hard water | white marks |  | the kettle |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent mark=Theme in kettle=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hardness in his voice surprised her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardness:x6:1
# text = The hardness in his voice surprised her.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hardness	hardness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	surprised	surprise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surprise** | past | the hardness in hardness's voice | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus she=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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