---
title: phosphorus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «phosphorus» in the school dictionary: Phosphorus is a chemical element, a non-metal with the symbol P and atomic number 15. 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/P/phosphorus/)

<!-- 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/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / phosphorus

# phosphorus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Phosphorus, living things, it, plants, DNA, Pure white phosphorus · **What happens:** be, need, live, grow, glow, catch · **To what, where:** chemical element, It, bones, DNA, dark, fire

<!-- .vabout -->
«phosphorus» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [phosphorus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/phosphorus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phosphorus is a chemical element, a non-metal with the symbol P and atomic number 15.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:m1:1
# text = Phosphorus is a chemical element, a non-metal with the symbol P and atomic number 15.
1	Phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	element	element	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	non-metal	non-metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	P	P	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	atomic	atomic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
16	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Phosphorus | a chemical element |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
It is needed by all living things: it is in our bones, teeth and DNA, and plants need it to grow.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:m2:1
# text = It is needed by all living things: it is in our bones, teeth and DNA, and plants need it to grow.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
6	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive | all living things | It |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |
| 2 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | it |  |  | our bones and teeth and DNA |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **need** | present | plants | DNA |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **grow** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | DNA *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pure white phosphorus glows in the dark and catches fire by itself in air, so it is very dangerous; red phosphorus is safer and is used on matchboxes.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:m3:1
# text = Pure white phosphorus glows in the dark and catches fire by itself in air, so it is very dangerous; red phosphorus is safer and is used on matchboxes.
1	Pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	glows	glow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	catches	catch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	9	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
25	safer	safe	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	20	parataxis	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
27	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	aux:pass	_	_
28	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	25	conj	_	_
29	on	on	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
30	matchboxes	matchbox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | present | Pure white phosphorus |  |  | the dark |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in dark=Location |
| 2 | **catch** | present | Pure white phosphorus *not said here* | fire |  | air |  | by phosphorus | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | phosphorus |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | red phosphorus |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **use** | present · passive | red phosphorus *not said here* |  |  | matchboxes |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phosphorus is element number 15 in the periodic table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x1:1
# text = Phosphorus is element number 15 in the periodic table.
1	Phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	element	element	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	flat	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	periodic	periodic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Phosphorus | element number |  | the periodic table |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our bones and teeth contain calcium and phosphorus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x2:1
# text = Our bones and teeth contain calcium and phosphorus.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	calcium	calcium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | Our bones and teeth | calcium and phosphorus |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot calcium=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Farmers add phosphorus to the soil so crops grow well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x3:1
# text = Farmers add phosphorus to the soil so crops grow well.
1	Farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	add	add	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | present | Farmers | phosphorus |  |  |  | to the soil | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent phosphorus=Patient to soil=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **grow** | present | crops |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The strip on the side of a matchbox has red phosphorus in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x4:1
# text = The strip on the side of a matchbox has red phosphorus in it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	matchbox	matchbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the strip on the side of a matchbox | red phosphorus |  | phosphorus |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phosphorus=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
White phosphorus glows faintly in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x5:1
# text = White phosphorus glows faintly in the dark.
1	White	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	glows	glow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | present | White phosphorus |  |  | the dark |  | faintly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in dark=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never touch white phosphorus; it can burn your skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x6:1
# text = Never touch white phosphorus; it can burn your skin.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	burn	burn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative | you *not said here* | white phosphorus |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme phosphorus=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **burn** | can | phosphorus | your skin |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent skin=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Milk, eggs and fish give us phosphorus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phosphorus:x7:1
# text = Milk, eggs and fish give us phosphorus.
1	Milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	phosphorus	phosphorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Milk and eggs and fish | phosphorus | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient phosphorus=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 -->

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