---
title: lightning — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lightning» in the school dictionary: The bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, made by a huge spark of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lightning

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** light, electricity, We, Lightning, you, She · **What happens:** make, flash, spark, see, come, be · **To what, where:** bright flash, sky, lightning, hills, thunder, tree

<!-- .vabout -->
«lightning» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [lightning in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lightning.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, made by a huge spark of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:m1:1
# text = The bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, made by a huge spark of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	during	during	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	spark	spark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
20	between	between	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	between	between	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | the bright flash of light in the sky during a storm *not said here* |  |  |  | by a huge spark of electricity between clouds or a cloud and the ground | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **flash** |  | light |  |  | the sky | during a storm |  | nom flash «event intransitive»: of=agent in=place during=obl |
| 3 | **spark** |  | electricity between clouds or a cloud and the ground |  |  |  |  |  | nom spark «event intransitive»: of=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 -->
Very fast: «as quick as lightning», «lightning speed».

<!-- fold The tree, 8 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:m2:1
# text = Very fast: «as quick as lightning», «lightning speed».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw lightning over the hills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x1:1
# text = We saw lightning over the hills.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hills	hill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | lightning |  | the hills |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer lightning=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightning comes before thunder because light is faster than sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x2:1
# text = Lightning comes before thunder because light is faster than sound.
1	Lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	before	before	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	faster	fast	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	advcl	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Lightning |  |  | thunder |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before thunder=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | light |  |  |  |  | than sound; fast *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tree was struck by lightning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x3:1
# text = The tree was struck by lightning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	struck	strike	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past · passive | lightning | the tree |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Go inside when you hear thunder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x4:1
# text = Go inside when you hear thunder.
1	Go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	hear	hear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
6	thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | present | you | thunder |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer thunder=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't stand under a tall tree during lightning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x5:1
# text = Don't stand under a tall tree during lightning.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	during	during	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	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 | **not** **stand** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | a tall tree | during lightning |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under tree=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She ran as quick as lightning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x6:1
# text = She ran as quick as lightning.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | She |  |  |  |  | quick *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I counted 6 seconds after the flash, so the storm was about 2 km away.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x7:1
# text = I counted 6 seconds after the flash, so the storm was about 2 km away.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	counted	count	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	seconds	second	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	km	km	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl:unmarked	_	_
16	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | I |  |  |  | after the flash; second |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | the storm |  |  |  |  | 2 km *obl:unmarked*; away *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thunder and lightning scared the dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x8:1
# text = Thunder and lightning scared the dog.
1	Thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	scared	scare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare** | past | Thunder and lightning | the dog |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus dog=Experiencer |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gleams of lightning shot forth from them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightning:x9:1
# text = Gleams of lightning shot forth from them.
1	Gleams	gleam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	lightning	lightning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	shot	shoot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shoot** | past | Gleams of lightning |  |  |  |  | from them *= they*; forth *property* | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent from they=Initial\_Location |

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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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