---
title: mow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mow» in the school dictionary: To mow grass means to cut it short with a machine called a lawnmower or with a long blade. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** machine, Dad, I, mown grass, you, mower · **What happens:** mow, mean, cut, call, mow down, knock down · **To what, where:** grass, lawnmower, people, many, war, lawn · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To mow grass means to cut it short with a machine called a lawnmower or with a long blade.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:m1:1
# text = To mow grass means to cut it short with a machine called a lawnmower or with a long blade.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	mow	mow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	lawnmower	lawnmower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mow** | to-infinitive |  | grass |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cut** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | grass |  |  |  | short *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 4 | **call** | participle | a machine *not said here* | a lawnmower or a long blade |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent lawnmower=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
To mow down people or things means to knock them down or kill many of them quickly (used in war or accident reports).

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:m2:1
# text = To mow down people or things means to knock them down or kill many of them quickly (used in war or accident reports).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	mow	mow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	knock	knock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
14	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	_
17	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	parataxis	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	reports	report	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mow down** | to-infinitive |  | people or things |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **knock down** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 4 | **kill** | infinitive |  | many of people |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Theme |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | war or accident reports |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad mows the lawn every Saturday in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x1:1
# text = Dad mows the lawn every Saturday in summer.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mows	mow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lawn	lawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	Saturday	Saturday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	summer	summer	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 | **mow** | present | Dad | the lawn |  |  | saturday; summer |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lawn=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I love the smell of freshly mown grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x2:1
# text = I love the smell of freshly mown grass.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	freshly	freshly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	mown	mown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | I | the smell of mown grass |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer smell=Stimulus |
| 2 | **smell** |  | mown grass |  |  |  |  |  | nom smell «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep away from the mower when it is running.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x3:1
# text = Keep away from the mower when it is running.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mower	mower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the mower |  | away *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer from mower=Eventuality |
| 2 | **run** | present · progressive | mower |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer mowed the field to make hay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x4:1
# text = The farmer mowed the field to make hay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mowed	mow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	hay	hay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mow** | past | the farmer | the field |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent field=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the farmer *not said here* | hay |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hay=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big sister earns pocket money by mowing neighbours' lawns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x5:1
# text = My big sister earns pocket money by mowing neighbours' lawns.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	earns	earn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	mowing	mow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	neighbours	neighbour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	lawns	lawn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **earn** | present | My big sister | pocket money |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |
| 2 | **mow** | gerund | My big sister *not said here* | neighbours's lawns |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lawn=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear shoes when you are near someone mowing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x6:1
# text = Wear shoes when you are near someone mowing.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	near	near	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	compound	_	_
8	mowing	mowing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | shoes |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  | someone mowing |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grass needs mowing; it is too long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x7:1
# text = The grass needs mowing; it is too long.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mowing	mowing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the grass | mowing |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot mowing=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | grass |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story the giant mowed down the trees with his sword.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x8:1
# text = In the story the giant mowed down the trees with his sword.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	giant	giant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	mowed	mow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mow down** | participle | the giant | the trees |  | the story |  | with giant's sword | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent tree=Patient with sword=Instrument |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The King did not fail asking of the mowers, to whom the meadow they were mowing belonged.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mow:x9:1
# text = The King did not fail asking of the mowers, to whom the meadow they were mowing belonged.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	fail	fail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mowers	mower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	parataxis	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	meadow	meadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
16	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
17	mowing	mow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	belonged	belong	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fail** | past · do-support | the King |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | the King *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of the mowers | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.recipient how S»: agent=Agent of mower=Recipient |
| 3 | **belong** | past · passive |  | mowers *= mower* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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