---
title: phase — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «phase» in the school dictionary: A phase is one stage of something that changes over time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# phase

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** phase, phases, Moon, someone, step, Tonight · **What happens:** be, change, seem, have, like, do · **To what, where:** one stage, different shapes, short time, something, it, different phases · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«phase» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [phase in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/phase.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A phase is one stage of something that changes over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:m1:1
# text = A phase is one stage of something that changes over time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	over	over	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a phase | one stage |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | present |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
The phases of the Moon are the different shapes the Moon seems to have during a month.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:m2:1
# text = The phases of the Moon are the different shapes the Moon seems to have during a month.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	phases	phase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	shapes	shape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	during	during	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	month	month	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the phases of the Moon | the different shapes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present | the Moon | the different shapes *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** | to-infinitive | the Moon *not said here* |  |  |  | month |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A phase can be a short time when someone likes or does something a lot.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:m3:1
# text = A phase can be a short time when someone likes or does something a lot.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
10	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a phase | a short time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **do** | present | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To phase something out means to stop using it slowly, step by step.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:m4:1
# text = To phase something out means to stop using it slowly, step by step.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	phase	phase	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
8	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **phase out** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  | step by step *obl*; slowly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 5 | **step** |  | step |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: by=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Moon has different phases every month.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x1:1
# text = The Moon has different phases every month.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	phases	phase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	month	month	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 Moon | different phases |  |  | month |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phase=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tonight the Moon is in its full moon phase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x2:1
# text = Tonight the Moon is in its full moon phase.
1	Tonight	tonight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tonight |  |  | Moon's full moon phase |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw the phases of the Moon in order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x3:1
# text = Draw the phases of the Moon in order.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	phases	phase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	order	order	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 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | the phases of the Moon |  | order |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent phase=Theme in order=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caterpillar goes through several phases to become a butterfly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x4:1
# text = A caterpillar goes through several phases to become a butterfly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	phases	phase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | a caterpillar |  |  | several phases |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through phase=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **become** | to-infinitive | a caterpillar *not said here* | a butterfly |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother is going through a dinosaur phase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x5:1
# text = My brother is going through a dinosaur phase.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · progressive | My brother |  |  | a dinosaur phase |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through phase=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The building work is in its last phase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x6:1
# text = The building work is in its last phase.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the building work |  |  | work's last phase |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plastic straws are being phased out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x7:1
# text = Plastic straws are being phased out.
1	Plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	straws	straw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	phased	phase	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **phase out** | present · passive |  | Plastic straws |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crescent is the thinnest phase of the Moon we can see.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phase:x8:1
# text = A crescent is the thinnest phase of the Moon we can see.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crescent	crescent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thinnest	thin	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	phase	phase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Moon	Moon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crescent | the thinnest phase |  |  |  | of the Moon | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | can | we | the thinnest phase *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer phase=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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