---
title: rail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «rail» in the school dictionary: A rail is a long bar fixed in place, used to hold on to, to hang things on, or to make a fence. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# rail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rail, Rails, metal bars, you, train, We · **What happens:** be, fix, use, hold on, hang on, make · **To what, where:** long bar, place, things, fence, metal bars, railway

<!-- .vabout -->
«rail» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [rail in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rail.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rail is a long bar fixed in place, used to hold on to, to hang things on, or to make a fence.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:m1:1
# text = A rail is a long bar fixed in place, used to hold on to, to hang things on, or to make a fence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	hang	hang	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
19	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a rail | a long bar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fix** | participle |  | a long bar *not said here* |  | place |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | participle | a rail *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **hold on** | to-infinitive | a rail *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **hang on** | to-infinitive | a rail *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 6 | **make** | to-infinitive | a rail *not said here* | a fence |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fence=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Rails are the metal bars that trains run on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:m2:1
# text = Rails are the metal bars that trains run on.
1	Rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Rails | the metal bars |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run on** | present | the metal bars |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rail means the railway, as in travel by rail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:m3:1
# text = Rail means the railway, as in travel by rail.
1	Rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	travel	travel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Rail | the railway |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent railway=Topic |
| 2 | **travel** |  | rail |  |  |  |  |  | nom travel «act intransitive»: by=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rail at someone means to complain or shout angrily at them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:m4:1
# text = To rail at someone means to complain or shout angrily at them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	complain	complain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	shout	shout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	angrily	angrily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | rail at someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **complain** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | rail at someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **shout** *speech: express* | infinitive | rail at someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at them *= they*; angrily *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold on to the rail when you go down the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x1:1
# text = Hold on to the rail when you go down the stairs.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold on** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the rail | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **go down** | present | you | the stairs |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient stair=Extent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never play near the railway rails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x2:1
# text = Never play near the railway rails.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **play** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the railway rails |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The train runs on metal rails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x3:1
# text = The train runs on metal rails.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | the train |  |  | metal rails |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on rail=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We travelled by rail from London to Edinburgh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x4:1
# text = We travelled by rail from London to Edinburgh.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travelled	travel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | past | We |  | Edinburgh |  |  | by rail from London | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by rail=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hang your coat on the rail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x5:1
# text = Hang your coat on the rail.
1	Hang	hang	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | imperative | you *not said here* | your coat |  | the rail |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent coat=Theme on rail=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The towel rail in the bathroom is warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x6:1
# text = The towel rail in the bathroom is warm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bathroom	bathroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the towel rail in the bathroom |  |  |  |  | warm *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't lean over the balcony rail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x7:1
# text = Don't lean over the balcony rail.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	lean	lean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	balcony	balcony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	rail	rail	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 | **not** **lean** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | the balcony rail |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent over rail=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And the poor wife put everything to rights, and reproached and railed at her husband.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rail:x8:1
# text = And the poor wife put everything to rights, and reproached and railed at her husband.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	reproached	reproach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	railed	rail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	husband	husband	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | the poor wife | everything |  |  |  | to rights | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent everything=Goal |
| 2 | **reproach** | participle | the poor wife *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **rail** | participle | the poor wife *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at wife's husband | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
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