---
title: mulch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mulch» in the school dictionary: A layer of material such as bark, leaves, straw or compost spread on soil around plants. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mulch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, Mulch, soil, Grandma, Worms, you · **What happens:** spread, put, help, stay, mulch, love · **To what, where:** straw, soil, mulch, layer, hot weather, school garden

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A layer of material such as bark, leaves, straw or compost spread on soil around plants.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:m1:1
# text = A layer of material such as bark, leaves, straw or compost spread on soil around plants.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	compost	compost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
17	around	around	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | participle |  | straw or compost *not said here* |  | soil around plants |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on soil=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spread mulch on soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:m2:1
# text = To spread mulch on soil.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | to-infinitive |  | mulch |  | soil |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent mulch=Theme on soil=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We put a layer of mulch round the tomato plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x1:1
# text = We put a layer of mulch round the tomato plants.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	round	round	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	tomato	tomato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | We | a layer of mulch |  |  |  | round the tomato plants | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent layer=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mulch helps the soil stay damp in hot weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x2:1
# text = Mulch helps the soil stay damp in hot weather.
1	Mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	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	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Mulch | the soil |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent soil=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** | infinitive | the soil *not said here* |  |  | hot weather |  | damp *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in weather=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school garden is mulched with wood chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x3:1
# text = The school garden is mulched with wood chips.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	mulched	mulch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mulch** | present · passive |  | the school garden |  |  |  | with wood chips | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination with chip=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma mulched her roses with compost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x4:1
# text = Grandma mulched her roses with compost.
1	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mulched	mulch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	roses	rose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	compost	compost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mulch** | past | Grandma | Grandma's roses |  |  |  | with compost | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent rose=Destination with compost=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms love the leaves we use as mulch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x5:1
# text = Worms love the leaves we use as mulch.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Worms | the leaves |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer leaf=Stimulus |
| 2 | **use** | present | we | the leaves *not said here* |  |  |  | as mulch | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent leaf=Duration as mulch=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mulch stops weeds from growing so fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x6:1
# text = Mulch stops weeds from growing so fast.
1	Mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	weeds	weed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | Mulch | weeds |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality weed=Eventuality |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | Mulch *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spread the mulch, but don't pile it against the stems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mulch:x7:1
# text = Spread the mulch, but don't pile it against the stems.
1	Spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mulch	mulch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	pile	pile	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stems	stem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | imperative | you *not said here* | the mulch |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location mulch=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **pile** | infinitive · do-support |  | mulch |  | the stems |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme against stem=Destination |

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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.

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