---
title: railroad — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «railroad» in the school dictionary: In American English, a railway: the track made of steel rails that trains run on, or the whole train system. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# railroad

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** steel rails, someone, them, railroad, you, Building · **What happens:** make, run on, railroad, mean, force, do · **To what, where:** track, whole train system, them, something, town, railroad tracks

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In American English, a railway: the track made of steel rails that trains run on, or the whole train system.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:m1:1
# text = In American English, a railway: the track made of steel rails that trains run on, or the whole train system.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	track	track	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	steel	steel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
15	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
17	on	on	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
21	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
22	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | the track *not said here* |  |  |  | of steel rails | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **run on** | present | steel rails | the whole train system |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
As a verb, to railroad someone means to force them to do something quickly without giving them time to think.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:m2:1
# text = As a verb, to railroad someone means to force them to do something quickly without giving them time to think.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	railroad	railroad	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	force	force	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
16	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
18	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	iobj	_	_
19	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **railroad** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | as a verb | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Result |
| 2 | **mean** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **force** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **give** | gerund | them *= they* *not said here* |  | them *= they* |  | time |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 6 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The railroad runs right past our town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x1:1
# text = The railroad runs right past our town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	railroad	railroad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	right	right	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	past	past	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	town	town	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 | **run** | present | the railroad |  |  | our town |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme past town=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop, look and listen at the railroad crossing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x2:1
# text = Stop, look and listen at the railroad crossing.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	railroad	railroad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **listen** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the railroad crossing | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at crossing=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never play on railroad tracks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x3:1
# text = Never play on railroad tracks.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	railroad	railroad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tracks	track	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	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* |  |  | railroad tracks |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Building the first railroad across America took many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x4:1
# text = Building the first railroad across America took many years.
1	Building	build	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
4	railroad	railroad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | gerund |  | the first railroad |  | America |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset railroad=Product |
| 2 | **take** | past | Building |  |  |  | year |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harriet Tubman led people to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x5:1
# text = Harriet Tubman led people to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
1	Harriet	Harriet	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Tubman	Tubman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Underground	Underground	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Railroad	Railroad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Harriet | people |  | the Underground Railroad |  | to freedom | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent people=Theme to freedom=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa worked on the railroad for forty years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x6:1
# text = Grandpa worked on the railroad for forty years.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	railroad	railroad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	forty	forty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Grandpa |  |  |  | year | on the railroad | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on railroad=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They railroaded him into joining the club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railroad:x7:1
# text = They railroaded him into joining the club.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	railroaded	railroad	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	joining	join	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **railroad** | past | They | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 2 | **join** | gerund | They *not said here* | the club |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent club=Patient |

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**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.

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