---
title: metric — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «metric» in the school dictionary: Using the metric system of measurement, based on the metre, the kilogram and the litre, with units that go up in tens (10, 100, 1,000). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# metric

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** units, measure, Most countries, Centimetres, road signs, metric tonne · **What happens:** use, base, go up, judge, compare, do · **To what, where:** metric system, measure, something, metric units, miles, food

<!-- .vabout -->
«metric» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [metric in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/metric.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Using the metric system of measurement, based on the metre, the kilogram and the litre, with units that go up in tens (10, 100, 1,000).

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:m1:1
# text = Using the metric system of measurement, based on the metre, the kilogram and the litre, with units that go up in tens (10, 100, 1,000).
1	Using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	metric	metric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	measurement	measurement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
8	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	case	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	metre	metre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	kilogram	kilogram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	litre	litre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	units	unit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
21	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
23	up	up	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	tens	ten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	_
26	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	25	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
29	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	27	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
31	1,000	1000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund |  | the metric system of measurement |  |  |  | base the metre and the kilogram and the litre and units | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent system=Patient |
| 2 | **base** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **go up** | present | units |  |  |  |  | in tens | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in ten=Attribute |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A measure used to judge or compare how well something is doing, such as test scores or sales.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:m2:1
# text = A measure used to judge or compare how well something is doing, such as test scores or sales.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	measure	measure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	judge	judge	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	compare	compare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	scores	score	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a measure *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **judge** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1-1 «NP V whether/if S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **compare** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | well *property* | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 4 | **do** | present · progressive | a measure |  |  |  |  | such test scores or sales | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with the rhythm or metre of a poem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:m3:1
# text = To do with the rhythm or metre of a poem.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	metre	metre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the rhythm or metre of a poem | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most countries use the metric system.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x1:1
# text = Most countries use the metric system.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	metric	metric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Most countries | the metric system |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent system=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Centimetres and kilograms are metric units.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x2:1
# text = Centimetres and kilograms are metric units.
1	Centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	metric	metric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	units	unit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Centimetres and kilograms | metric units |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the UK, road signs show miles, but food is weighed in metric.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x3:1
# text = In the UK, road signs show miles, but food is weighed in metric.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	weighed	weigh	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	metric	metric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | road signs | miles |  |  |  | in the UK | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent mile=Patient in uk=Topic |
| 2 | **weigh** | present · passive |  | food |  | metric |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: subject=Value |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x4:1
# text = A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	metric	metric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tonne	tonne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	1,000	1000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a metric tonne | 1,000 kilograms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convert 3 metres into centimetres using metric rules: 300 cm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x5:1
# text = Convert 3 metres into centimetres using metric rules: 300 cm.
1	Convert	convert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	flat	_	_
3	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	metric	metric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund | centimetres *not said here* | metric rules |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The USA still mostly uses imperial, not metric.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x6:1
# text = The USA still mostly uses imperial, not metric.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	imperial	imperial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	metric	metric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | the USA | imperial |  |  | still | mostly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent imperial=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company uses customer happiness as a key metric.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metric:x7:1
# text = The company uses customer happiness as a key metric.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	key	key	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	metric	metric	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 | **use** | present | the company | customer happiness |  |  |  | as a key metric | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent happiness=Duration as metric=Attribute |

<!-- 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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