---
title: inertia — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inertia» in the school dictionary: The way an object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed in a straight line until a force changes it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inertia

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** object, force, bus, inertia, you, Seatbelts · **What happens:** stay, keep, move, change, lack, stop · **To what, where:** way, same speed, object, energy, you, crash · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way an object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed in a straight line until a force changes it.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:m1:1
# text = The way an object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed in a straight line until a force changes it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
18	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | present | a object | the way |  |  | still |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | a object *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **move** | gerund | a object *not said here* |  |  | the same speed |  | in a straight line | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme at speed=Source in line=Trajectory |
| 4 | **change** | present | a force | object |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Lack of energy or wish to move or change: laziness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:m2:1
# text = Lack of energy or wish to move or change: laziness.
1	Lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	laziness	laziness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lack** |  |  | energy |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the bus stops suddenly, inertia keeps you moving forward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x1:1
# text = When the bus stops suddenly, inertia keeps you moving forward.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
5	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
11	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | the bus |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **keep** | present | inertia | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **move forward** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seatbelts protect you against inertia in a crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x2:1
# text = Seatbelts protect you against inertia in a crash.
1	Seatbelts	seatbelt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crash	crash	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 | **protect** | present | Seatbelts |  | you | a crash |  | against inertia | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary against inertia=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy trolley has more inertia than a light one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x3:1
# text = A heavy trolley has more inertia than a light one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	trolley	trolley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a heavy trolley | more inertia |  |  |  | than a light one | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent inertia=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pull the tablecloth fast and inertia keeps the plates in place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x4:1
# text = Pull the tablecloth fast and inertia keeps the plates in place.
1	Pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tablecloth |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tablecloth=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | inertia | the plates |  | place |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent plate=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the holiday, inertia kept me on the sofa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x5:1
# text = After the holiday, inertia kept me on the sofa.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | inertia | me |  | the sofa | after the holiday |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent i=Theme on sofa=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Newton's first law is called the law of inertia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inertia:x6:1
# text = Newton's first law is called the law of inertia.
1	Newton	Newton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
4	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	inertia	inertia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Newton's first law |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

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