---
title: quicksand — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «quicksand» in the school dictionary: Quicksand is loose, wet sand that you can sink into when you step on it. 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/Q/quicksand/)

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

# quicksand

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Quicksand, wet sand, you, hero, water, cow · **What happens:** be, sink, step, watch out, fall, stay · **To what, where:** Quicksand, estuary, sand, you, us, beach

<!-- .vabout -->
«quicksand» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 8 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: [quicksand in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/quicksand.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quicksand is loose, wet sand that you can sink into when you step on it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:m1:1
# text = Quicksand is loose, wet sand that you can sink into when you step on it.
1	Quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	loose	loose	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	sink	sink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	step	step	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Quicksand |  |  |  |  | loose *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sink** | can | wet sand |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **step** | present | you |  |  | Quicksand |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on it=Trajectory |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch out for quicksand near the estuary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x1:1
# text = Watch out for quicksand near the estuary.
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	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	estuary	estuary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	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* |  |  | the estuary |  | for quicksand | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for quicksand=Theme near estuary=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hero fell into quicksand in the film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x2:1
# text = The hero fell into quicksand in the film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | the hero |  |  | quicksand |  | in the film | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in film=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you step in quicksand, stay calm and lean back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x3:1
# text = If you step in quicksand, stay calm and lean back.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	step	step	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	lean	lean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **step** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  | quicksand |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in quicksand=Trajectory |
| 2 | **stay** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **lean back** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quicksand forms where water flows up through sand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x4:1
# text = Quicksand forms where water flows up through sand.
1	Quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	5	advmod	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	flows	flow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | Quicksand |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **flow up** | present | water |  |  | sand |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through sand=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cow got stuck in the quicksand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x5:1
# text = The cow got stuck in the quicksand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the cow |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying flat helps you float on quicksand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x6:1
# text = Lying flat helps you float on quicksand.
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	flat	flat	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	float	float	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | flat *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** | present | Lying | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **float** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  | quicksand |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on quicksand=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guide warned us about quicksand on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x7:1
# text = The guide warned us about quicksand on the beach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guide	guide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warned	warn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
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	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | past | the guide |  | us | the beach |  | about quicksand | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP PP.topic»: agent=Agent we=Recipient about quicksand=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His lies became a quicksand he couldn't escape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quicksand:x8:1
# text = His lies became a quicksand he couldn't escape.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	quicksand	quicksand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | His lies | a quicksand |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **escape** | could | he | a quicksand *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme quicksand=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **lie** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom lie «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

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