---
title: motorway — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «motorway» in the school dictionary: A motorway is a wide, fast road with several lanes in each direction, made for long journeys by car and lorry. (UK, Ireland, NZ; US: freeway or highway; Australia: freeway or motorway.). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motorway/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / motorway

# motorway

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** motorway, We, you, 's, it, car · **What happens:** be, make, drive down, let, stop, not allow · **To what, where:** wide fast road, motorway, seaside, 's, motorway services, Bikes

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A motorway is a wide, fast road with several lanes in each direction, made for long journeys by car and lorry. (UK, Ireland, NZ; US: freeway or highway; Australia: freeway or motorway.).

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A motorway is a wide, fast road with several lanes in each direction, made for long journeys by car and lorry.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:m1:1
# text = A motorway is a wide, fast road with several lanes in each direction, made for long journeys by car and lorry.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	lanes	lane	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
14	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	journeys	journey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	lorry	lorry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a motorway | a wide fast road |  |  |  | with several lanes in each direction | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a wide fast road *not said here* |  |  |  | for long journeys; by car and lorry | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent for journey=Asset |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (UK, Ireland, NZ; US: freeway or highway; Australia: freeway or motorway.).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:m1:2
# text = (UK, Ireland, NZ; US: freeway or highway; Australia: freeway or motorway.).
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	NZ	NZ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	freeway	freeway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	highway	highway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
16	freeway	freeway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drove down the motorway to the seaside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x1:1
# text = We drove down the motorway to the seaside.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	seaside	seaside	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 | **drive down** | past | We | the motorway |  | the seaside |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent motorway=Theme to seaside=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's stop at the motorway services for a break.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x2:1
# text = Let's stop at the motorway services for a break.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	services	service	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | infinitive | 's *not said here* |  |  | the motorway services for a break |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at service=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bikes are not allowed on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x3:1
# text = Bikes are not allowed on the motorway.
1	Bikes	bike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **allow** | present · passive |  | Bikes |  | the motorway |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The motorway was jammed with traffic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x4:1
# text = The motorway was jammed with traffic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	motorway	motorway	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	jammed	jam	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	traffic	traffic	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 | **jam** | past · passive |  | the motorway |  |  |  | with traffic | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: subject=Destination with traffic=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take the next junction off the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x5:1
# text = Take the next junction off the motorway.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	junction	junction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | the next junction |  | the motorway |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent junction=Theme off motorway=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At 60 miles per hour, it takes two hours to drive 120 miles on the motorway.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x6:1
# text = At 60 miles per hour, it takes two hours to drive 120 miles on the motorway.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	per	per	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	drive	drive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
13	120	120	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | it |  |  |  | hour | at 60 miles per hour | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent at mile=Asset |
| 2 | **drive** | to-infinitive |  | 120 miles |  | the motorway |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent mile=Theme on motorway=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the car broke down, we waited behind the barrier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x7:1
# text = When the car broke down, we waited behind the barrier.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break down** | past | the car |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **wait** | past | we |  |  | the barrier |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind barrier=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The motorway has three lanes each way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motorway:x8:1
# text = The motorway has three lanes each way.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	lanes	lane	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the motorway | three lanes |  |  |  | each way *obl:unmarked* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lane=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [motorist](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motorist/)
- next →: [mottled](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mottled/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)