---
title: pebble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pebble» in the school dictionary: A pebble is a small, smooth, round stone, often found on beaches and in rivers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pebble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pebble, water, She, We, pebbles, you · **What happens:** be, find, round, rub, skim, roll · **To what, where:** small smooth round stone, beaches, Pebbles, white pebble, beach, lake

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pebble is a small, smooth, round stone, often found on beaches and in rivers.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:m1:1
# text = A pebble is a small, smooth, round stone, often found on beaches and in rivers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pebble	pebble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	beaches	beach	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pebble | a small smooth round stone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | participle |  | a small smooth round stone *not said here* |  | beaches and rivers |  | often *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Pebbles are rounded because water rubbed them for a long time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:m2:1
# text = Pebbles are rounded because water rubbed them for a long time.
1	Pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	rounded	round	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	rubbed	rub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **round** | present · passive |  | Pebbles |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **rub** | past | water | Pebbles *= pebble* |  |  | time |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She found a white pebble on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x1:1
# text = She found a white pebble on the beach.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pebble	pebble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	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 | **find** | past | She | a white pebble |  | the beach |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pebble=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We skimmed pebbles across the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x2:1
# text = We skimmed pebbles across the lake.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	skimmed	skim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lake	lake	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 | **skim** | past | We | pebbles |  | the lake |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent pebble=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river had rolled the pebbles until they were smooth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x3:1
# text = The river had rolled the pebbles until they were smooth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	rolled	roll	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | past · perfect · passive |  | the river |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP ADJ.result»: subject=Theme pebble=Result |
| 2 | **is** | past | pebbles *= pebble* |  |  |  |  | smooth *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The path was covered with grey pebbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x4:1
# text = The path was covered with grey pebbles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	path	path	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	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never throw pebbles at people or cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x5:1
# text = Never throw pebbles at people or cars.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	throw	throw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **throw** | imperative | you *not said here* | pebbles |  |  |  | at people or cars | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent pebble=Theme at people=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put some pebbles at the bottom of the fish tank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x6:1
# text = Put some pebbles at the bottom of the fish tank.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | some pebbles |  | the bottom of the fish tank |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pebble=Theme at bottom=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story Hansel dropped white pebbles to find the way home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x7:1
# text = In the story Hansel dropped white pebbles to find the way home.
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	5	obl	_	_
4	Hansel	Hansel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pebbles	pebble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	home	home	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | Hansel | white pebbles |  | the story |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pebble=Theme in story=Destination |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Hansel *not said here* | the way |  |  |  | home *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The other denied in anger that he had thrown the pebble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pebble:x8:1
# text = The other denied in anger that he had thrown the pebble.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
3	denied	deny	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pebble	pebble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | participle |  |  |  | anger |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **throw** | past · perfect | he | the pebble |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pebble=Theme |

<!-- 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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