---
title: molehill — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «molehill» in the school dictionary: A small pile of earth pushed up by a mole digging its tunnels underground. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# molehill

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, problem, mole, Grandad, We, Mum · **What happens:** push up, dig, make, treat, be, cover · **To what, where:** earth, tunnels, mountain, saying, small problem, football pitch · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«molehill» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [molehill in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/molehill.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small pile of earth pushed up by a mole digging its tunnels underground.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:m1:1
# text = A small pile of earth pushed up by a mole digging its tunnels underground.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	pushed	push	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	underground	underground	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push up** | participle |  | earth *not said here* |  |  |  | by a mole | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent by mole=Trajectory |
| 2 | **dig** | gerund |  | mole's tunnels |  |  |  | underground *property* | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tunnel=Theme |

<!-- .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 the saying «make a mountain out of a molehill»: to treat a small problem as if it were a huge one.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:m2:1
# text = In the saying «make a mountain out of a molehill»: to treat a small problem as if it were a huge one.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	saying	saying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	molehill	molehill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	treat	treat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	25	case	_	_
20	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
22	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | a mountain |  | the saying |  | out a molehill | tree rules |
| 2 | **treat** | to-infinitive |  | a small problem |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent problem=Recipient |
| 3 | **is** | past | problem |  |  |  |  | as a huge one | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The football pitch was covered in molehills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x1:1
# text = The football pitch was covered in molehills.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pitch	pitch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	molehills	molehill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | past · passive |  | the football pitch |  |  |  | in molehills | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in molehill=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mole digs tunnels and pushes the soil up into molehills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x2:1
# text = A mole digs tunnels and pushes the soil up into molehills.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	digs	dig	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pushes	push	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	up	up	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	molehills	molehill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | present | a mole | tunnels |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tunnel=Theme |
| 2 | **push up** | present | a mole *not said here* | the soil |  | molehills |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent soil=Theme into molehill=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You've only lost a pencil — don't make a mountain out of a molehill!

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x3:1
# text = You've only lost a pencil — don't make a mountain out of a molehill!
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	out	out	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	molehill	molehill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | present · perfect | You | a pencil |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **make** | infinitive · do-support | You *not said here* | a mountain |  | a molehill |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mountain=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad grumbled about the molehills on his lawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x4:1
# text = Grandad grumbled about the molehills on his lawn.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grumbled	grumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	molehills	molehill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	lawn	lawn	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 | **grumble** *speech: other* | past | Grandad |  |  | Grandad's lawn |  | about the molehills | vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about molehill=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We never saw the mole, only fresh molehills each morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x5:1
# text = We never saw the mole, only fresh molehills each morning.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	molehills	molehill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **see** | past | We | the mole and fresh molehills |  |  | morning |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mole=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum said the argument was a molehill, not a mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x6:1
# text = Mum said the argument was a molehill, not a mountain.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	molehill	molehill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the argument | a molehill and a mountain |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gardeners sometimes use the fine soil from molehills for seed pots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:molehill:x7:1
# text = Gardeners sometimes use the fine soil from molehills for seed pots.
1	Gardeners	gardener	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
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	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	molehills	molehill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	seed	seed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Gardeners | the fine soil |  | molehills |  | for seed pots; sometimes *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent soil=Theme for pot=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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