---
title: moss — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «moss» in the school dictionary: A small, soft, green plant without flowers that grows in thick, low patches on damp ground, rocks, trees and walls. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# moss

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flowers, Moss, Mosses, Birds, We, rolling stone · **What happens:** grow, cover, feel, be, make, use · **To what, where:** thick low patches, old wall, damp shady places, spores, moss, nests

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, soft, green plant without flowers that grows in thick, low patches on damp ground, rocks, trees and walls.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:m1:1
# text = A small, soft, green plant without flowers that grows in thick, low patches on damp ground, rocks, trees and walls.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
15	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	patches	patch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | flowers |  |  | thick low patches on damp ground and rocks and trees and walls |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in patch=Location |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old wall was covered in green moss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x1:1
# text = The old wall was covered in green moss.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wall	wall	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	_	8	case	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moss feels soft and spongy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x2:1
# text = Moss feels soft and spongy.
1	Moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | Moss |  |  |  |  | soft *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mosses grow in damp, shady places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x3:1
# text = Mosses grow in damp, shady places.
1	Mosses	moss	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	shady	shady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Mosses |  |  | damp shady places |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful — moss on the rocks is slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x4:1
# text = Be careful — moss on the rocks is slippery.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	csubj	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | moss on the rocks |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moss makes spores instead of seeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x5:1
# text = Moss makes spores instead of seeds.
1	Moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	seeds	seed	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 | **make** | present | Moss | spores |  |  |  | instead seeds | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset spore=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds use moss to line their nests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x6:1
# text = Birds use moss to line their nests.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	line	line	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Birds | moss |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moss=Patient |
| 2 | **line** | to-infinitive | Birds *not said here* | Birds's nests |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme nest=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found moss growing between the paving stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x7:1
# text = We found moss growing between the paving stones.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	paving	paving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | moss |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moss=Topic |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | moss *not said here* |  |  | the paving stones |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between stone=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rolling stone gathers no moss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x8:1
# text = A rolling stone gathers no moss.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gathers	gather	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	moss	moss	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 | **roll** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **gather** | present | a rolling stone | no moss |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moss=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not a single glow-worm glittered in the moss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moss:x9:1
# text = Not a single glow-worm glittered in the moss.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	glow	glow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	glittered	glitter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glitter** | participle |  | a single glow worm *not said here* |  | the moss |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in moss=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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