---
title: prone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prone» in the school dictionary: Prone to something means likely to have it or do it, often something bad: prone to colds, prone to flooding. 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/prone/)

<!-- 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/) / prone

# prone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Prone, Lying, little brother, road, Japan, I · **What happens:** mean, have, do, lie, face down, be · **To what, where:** something, Prone, front, prone country, accident prone, grass · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«prone» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [prone in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prone.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prone to something means likely to have it or do it, often something bad: prone to colds, prone to flooding.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:m1:1
# text = Prone to something means likely to have it or do it, often something bad: prone to colds, prone to flooding.
1	Prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	nmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
15	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	colds	cold	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
22	to	to	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	flooding	flooding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Prone to something | something |  |  |  | likely *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive | Prone to something *not said here* | Prone |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | Prone to something *not said here* | Prone |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Lying prone means lying flat on your front, face down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:m2:1
# text = Lying prone means lying flat on your front, face down.
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	face	face	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
11	down	down	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  | prone |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location prone=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Lying |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **lie** *not said to happen* | gerund | Lying *not said here* |  |  | your front |  | flat *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on front=Location |
| 4 | **face down** | infinitive | Lying *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother is prone to nosebleeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x1:1
# text = My little brother is prone to nosebleeds.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	nosebleeds	nosebleed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My little brother | prone |  |  |  | to nosebleeds | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This road is prone to flooding after heavy rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x2:1
# text = This road is prone to flooding after heavy rain.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	flooding	flood	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this road | prone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **flood** | gerund |  |  |  |  | after heavy rain |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Japan is an earthquake-prone country.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x3:1
# text = Japan is an earthquake-prone country.
1	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm accident-prone; I tripped twice today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x4:1
# text = I'm accident-prone; I tripped twice today.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	tripped	trip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	8	advmod	_	_
10	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | accident prone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trip** | past | I | accident prone *not said here* |  |  | today | twice *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prone=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier lay prone in the grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x5:1
# text = The soldier lay prone in the grass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	grass	grass	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 | **lie** | past | the soldier | prone |  | the grass |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location prone=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lie prone on the mat with your arms stretched out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x6:1
# text = Lie prone on the mat with your arms stretched out.
1	Lie	lie	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mat	mat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | imperative | you *not said here* | prone |  | the mat |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location prone=Theme |
| 2 | **stretch out** | participle · passive |  | your arms |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some dogs are prone to getting fat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prone:x7:1
# text = Some dogs are prone to getting fat.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prone	prone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	fat	fat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | some dogs | prone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | fat *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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: [promulgation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/promulgation/)
- next →: [prong](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prong/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)