---
title: polystyrene — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «polystyrene» in the school dictionary: Polystyrene is a light plastic. The common white kind is full of air bubbles and is used for packaging, cups and food boxes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# polystyrene

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Polystyrene, common white kind, polystyrene cup, We · **What happens:** be, use, pack, keep, float, make · **To what, where:** light plastic, Hard clear polystyrene, TV, polystyrene, tea, water

<!-- .vabout -->
«polystyrene» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [polystyrene in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/polystyrene.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polystyrene is a light plastic. The common white kind is full of air bubbles and is used for packaging, cups and food boxes.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Polystyrene is a light plastic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:m1:1
# text = Polystyrene is a light plastic.
1	Polystyrene	polystyrene	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	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Polystyrene | a light plastic |  |  |  |  | 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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* The common white kind is full of air bubbles and is used for packaging, cups and food boxes.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:m1:2
# text = The common white kind is full of air bubbles and is used for packaging, cups and food boxes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	bubbles	bubble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	packaging	packaging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	boxes	box	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the common white kind |  |  |  |  | of air bubbles; full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present · passive | the common white kind *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for packaging and cups and food boxes | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard clear polystyrene is used for things like plastic cutlery and CD cases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:m2:1
# text = Hard clear polystyrene is used for things like plastic cutlery and CD cases.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	polystyrene	polystyrene	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	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cutlery	cutlery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	CD	CD	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	cases	case	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Hard clear polystyrene |  |  |  | for things like plastic cutlery and CD cases | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for thing=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The TV came packed in polystyrene.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x1:1
# text = The TV came packed in polystyrene.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	packed	pack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** | past · passive |  | the TV |  | polystyrene |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in polystyrene=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A polystyrene cup keeps the tea hot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x2:1
# text = A polystyrene cup keeps the tea hot.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | a polystyrene cup | the tea |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tea=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polystyrene is very light and floats on water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x3:1
# text = Polystyrene is very light and floats on water.
1	Polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	floats	float	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Polystyrene |  |  |  |  | light *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **float** | present | Polystyrene *not said here* |  |  | water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on water=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used polystyrene balls to make model planets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x4:1
# text = We used polystyrene balls to make model planets.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	balls	ball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	planets	planet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | polystyrene balls |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | model planets |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset planet=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Polystyrene is hard to recycle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x5:1
# text = Polystyrene is hard to recycle.
1	Polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	recycle	recycle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Polystyrene |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **recycle** | to-infinitive | Polystyrene *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bits of polystyrene were washed up on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polystyrene:x6:1
# text = Bits of polystyrene were washed up on the beach.
1	Bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	polystyrene	polystyrene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	washed	wash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash up** | past · passive |  | Bits of polystyrene |  | the beach |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

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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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