---
title: pothole — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pothole» in the school dictionary: A hole in the surface of a road or path, made by weather and traffic. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pothole

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, hidden problem, car, tyre, you, pothole · **What happens:** make, climb down, cause, hit, go, watch out · **To what, where:** hole, deep hole, trouble, pothole, bike, potholes

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hole in the surface of a road or path, made by weather and traffic.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:m1:1
# text = A hole in the surface of a road or path, made by weather and traffic.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	surface	surface	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	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a hole in the surface of a road or path *not said here* |  |  |  | by weather and traffic | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 deep hole or cave in rock, often made by water, that people may climb down.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:m2:1
# text = A deep hole or cave in rock, often made by water, that people may climb down.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	parataxis	_	_
18	down	down	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a deep hole in rock or cave *not said here* |  |  |  | by water; often *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **climb down** | may | people |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hidden problem that could cause trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:m3:1
# text = A hidden problem that could cause trouble.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | could | a hidden problem | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition trouble=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's car hit a pothole and the tyre went flat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x1:1
# text = Dad's car hit a pothole and the tyre went flat.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pothole	pothole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tyre	tyre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | Dad's car | a pothole |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pothole=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **go** | past | the tyre |  |  |  |  | flat *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch out for potholes when you ride your bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x2:1
# text = Watch out for potholes when you ride your bike.
1	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	potholes	pothole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ride	ride	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch out** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for potholes | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for pothole=Theme |
| 2 | **ride** | present | you | your bike |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pothole filled with rain and looked like a puddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x3:1
# text = The pothole filled with rain and looked like a puddle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pothole	pothole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	puddle	puddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | participle | the pothole |  |  |  |  | with rain | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with rain=Instrument |
| 2 | **look** | past | the pothole *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a puddle | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council finally fixed the potholes on our street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x4:1
# text = The council finally fixed the potholes on our street.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	fixed	fix	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	potholes	pothole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | past | the council | the potholes |  | our street |  | finally *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent pothole=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorers climbed down a deep pothole in the hills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x5:1
# text = The explorers climbed down a deep pothole in the hills.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pothole	pothole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hills	hill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb down** | past | the explorers | a deep pothole |  | the hills |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location pothole=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are a few potholes in the plan, but we can fix them.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x6:1
# text = There are a few potholes in the plan, but we can fix them.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	potholes	pothole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | a few potholes in the plan |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fix** | can | we | potholes *= pothole* |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My scooter wobbled when it hit a pothole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pothole:x7:1
# text = My scooter wobbled when it hit a pothole.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	scooter	scooter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wobbled	wobble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pothole	pothole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wobble** | past | My scooter |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hit** | past | scooter | a pothole |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pothole=Co-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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