---
title: kerb — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «kerb» in the school dictionary: The kerb is the raised edge of a pavement (sidewalk) where it meets the road. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# kerb

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** kerb, you, She, Wheelchairs, green man, bins · **What happens:** raise, be, meet, spell, stop, look · **To what, where:** raised edge, road, it, American English, kerb, ways

<!-- .vabout -->
«kerb» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [kerb in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kerb.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kerb is the raised edge of a pavement (sidewalk) where it meets the road.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:m1:1
# text = The kerb is the raised edge of a pavement (sidewalk) where it meets the road.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	raised	raise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pavement	pavement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	sidewalk	sidewalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	15	advmod	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the kerb | the raised edge |  |  |  | of a pavement and sidewalk | tree rules |
| 3 | **meet** | present | kerb | the road |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Co-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 -->
In American English it is spelled curb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:m2:1
# text = In American English it is spelled curb.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	spelled	spell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	curb	curb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spell** | present · passive |  | it |  | American English |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP NP»: subject=Theme curb=Manner |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop at the kerb and look both ways.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x1:1
# text = Stop at the kerb and look both ways.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the kerb |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at kerb=Location |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | you *not said here* | both ways |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't step off the kerb without checking for cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x2:1
# text = Don't step off the kerb without checking for cars.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	step	step	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	checking	check	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **step off** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the kerb |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location kerb=Theme |
| 2 | **check** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for cars | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent for car=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car parked next to the kerb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x3:1
# text = The car parked next to the kerb.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	parked	park	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	next	next	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **park** | participle |  | the car *not said here* |  |  |  | to the kerb; next *property* | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She tripped on the kerb and grazed her knee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x4:1
# text = She tripped on the kerb and grazed her knee.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tripped	trip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	grazed	graze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trip** | past | She |  |  | the kerb |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on kerb=Trajectory |
| 2 | **graze** | past | She *not said here* | her knee |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knee=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wheelchairs need dropped kerbs to cross the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x5:1
# text = Wheelchairs need dropped kerbs to cross the road.
1	Wheelchairs	wheelchair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dropped	drop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	kerbs	kerb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Wheelchairs | dropped kerbs |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot kerb=Theme |
| 2 | **drop** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **cross** | to-infinitive | Wheelchairs *not said here* | the road |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait on the kerb until the green man shows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x6:1
# text = Wait on the kerb until the green man shows.
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the kerb |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on kerb=Location |
| 2 | **show** | present | the green man |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bins go out to the kerb on Monday nights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x7:1
# text = The bins go out to the kerb on Monday nights.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bins	bin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	nights	night	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** | present | the bins |  |  |  | night | to the kerb; out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stand well back from the kerb when buses pass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kerb:x8:1
# text = Stand well back from the kerb when buses pass.
1	Stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kerb	kerb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	buses	bus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	pass	pass	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand back** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the kerb |  | well *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pass** | present | buses |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

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