---
title: postbox — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «postbox» in the school dictionary: A public box, often red in the UK, where you put letters to be collected and posted. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# postbox

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, your, I, red postbox, collection time, We · **What happens:** put, collect, post, deliver, letterbox, mail · **To what, where:** letters, own mail, birthday card, Grandma, postbox, end · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A public box, often red in the UK, where you put letters to be collected and posted.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:m1:1
# text = A public box, often red in the UK, where you put letters to be collected and posted.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	put	put	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
14	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	collected	collect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	posted	post	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | present | you | letters |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent letter=Goal |
| 2 | **collect** | to-infinitive · passive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V» |
| 3 | **post** | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: 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 -->
A private box at your house or a post office where your own mail is delivered (more often «letterbox» or «mailbox»).

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:m2:1
# text = A private box at your house or a post office where your own mail is delivered (more often «letterbox» or «mailbox»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	16	advmod	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
13	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	mail	mail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	delivered	deliver	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	19	advmod	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	letterbox	letterbox	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	mailbox	mailbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | present · passive |  | your own mail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **letterbox** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **mail** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mail «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I put my birthday card to Grandma in the postbox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x1:1
# text = I put my birthday card to Grandma in the postbox.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	postbox	postbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 | I | my birthday card | Grandma | the postbox |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent card=Theme in postbox=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The red postbox is at the end of our street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x2:1
# text = The red postbox is at the end of our street.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	postbox	postbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the red postbox |  |  |  | at the end | of our street | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Ireland, postboxes are painted green.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x3:1
# text = In Ireland, postboxes are painted green.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	postboxes	postbox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | present · passive |  | postboxes |  | Ireland |  | green *property* | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: subject=Theme in ireland=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The collection time on the postbox says half past five.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x4:1
# text = The collection time on the postbox says half past five.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	collection	collection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	postbox	postbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	half	half	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	7	advmod	_	_
9	past	past	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the collection time on the postbox |  |  |  |  | past five; half *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We posted our letter to Santa in the postbox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x5:1
# text = We posted our letter to Santa in the postbox.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	posted	post	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Santa	Santa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	postbox	postbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **post** | past | We | our letter | Santa | the postbox |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent letter=Theme to santa=Destination |
| 2 | **letter** |  | our |  |  |  |  | to Santa | nom letter «communication transitive»: poss=agent to=obl |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is there a postbox near the school?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postbox:x6:1
# text = Is there a postbox near the school?
1	Is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	1	expl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	postbox	postbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a postbox near the school |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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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