---
title: rubble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «rubble» in the school dictionary: Broken pieces of stone, brick and concrete left when a building falls down or is knocked down. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# rubble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** building, old factory, many cities, Builders, dog · **What happens:** leave, fall down, knock down, break, use, fill · **To what, where:** broken stones, gaps, base, houses, Rescuers, rubble

<!-- .vabout -->
«rubble» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [rubble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rubble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Broken pieces of stone, brick and concrete left when a building falls down or is knocked down.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:m1:1
# text = Broken pieces of stone, brick and concrete left when a building falls down or is knocked down.
1	Broken	broken	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	brick	brick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	_
10	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	falls	fall	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
14	down	down	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	knocked	knock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	conj	_	_
18	down	down	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | participle | a building *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fall down** | present | a building |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **knock down** | present · passive | a building *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart» |

<!-- .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 -->
Rough broken stones used to fill gaps or make a base for a path or wall.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:m2:1
# text = Rough broken stones used to fill gaps or make a base for a path or wall.
1	Rough	rough	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fill	fill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	gaps	gap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	base	base	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | broken stones *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **fill** | to-infinitive |  | gaps |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent gap=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  | a base |  |  |  | for a path or wall | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent base=Product for path=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the earthquake, houses were reduced to rubble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x1:1
# text = After the earthquake, houses were reduced to rubble.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	reduced	reduce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	rubble	rubble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reduce** | past · passive |  | houses |  |  | after the earthquake |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Patient clause=Goal |
| 2 | **rubble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rescuers dug through the rubble to find survivors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x2:1
# text = Rescuers dug through the rubble to find survivors.
1	Rescuers	rescuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rubble	rubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	survivors	survivor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | participle |  | Rescuers *not said here* |  | the rubble |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent through rubble=Location |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | survivors |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent survivor=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old factory is now just a pile of rubble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x3:1
# text = The old factory is now just a pile of rubble.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	rubble	rubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the old factory | a pile |  |  | now | of rubble | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the war, many cities were full of rubble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x4:1
# text = During the war, many cities were full of rubble.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	rubble	rubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | many cities |  |  |  | during the war | of rubble; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Builders used rubble to fill the hole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x5:1
# text = Builders used rubble to fill the hole.
1	Builders	builder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rubble	rubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	fill	fill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hole	hole	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 | **use** | past | Builders | rubble |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rubble=Patient |
| 2 | **fill** | to-infinitive | Builders *not said here* | the hole |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent hole=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog sniffed the rubble for people trapped inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rubble:x6:1
# text = The dog sniffed the rubble for people trapped inside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sniffed	sniff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rubble	rubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | past | the dog | the rubble |  |  |  | for people | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rubble=Theme |
| 2 | **trap** | participle |  | people *not said here* |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->

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