---
title: ruler — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ruler» in the school dictionary: A ruler is a straight strip with marks, used to measure length and draw straight lines. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ruler

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ruler, person, many rulers, She, you · **What happens:** be, use, measure, draw, rule, fit · **To what, where:** straight strip, length, straight lines, person, m table, line · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ruler» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [ruler in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ruler.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ruler is a straight strip with marks, used to measure length and draw straight lines.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:m1:1
# text = A ruler is a straight strip with marks, used to measure length and draw straight lines.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	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	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	measure	measure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	draw	draw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ruler | a straight strip |  |  |  | with marks | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a straight strip *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **measure** | to-infinitive |  | length |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme length=Value |
| 4 | **draw** | infinitive |  | straight lines |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=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 -->
A ruler is also a person who rules a country, like a king, queen or emperor.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:m2:1
# text = A ruler is also a person who rules a country, like a king, queen or emperor.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	emperor	emperor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ruler | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **rule** |  | a person |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ruler is 30 cm long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x1:1
# text = A ruler is 30 cm long.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a ruler |  |  |  |  | 30 cm *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many rulers fit along a 2 m table?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x2:1
# text = How many rulers fit along a 2 m table?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rulers	ruler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fit	fit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	m	M	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fit** | present | many rulers |  |  | a m table |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent along table=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each ruler costs $1.50.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x3:1
# text = Each ruler costs $1.50.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	$	$	SYM	$	_	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	1.50	1.50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Frac	4	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | each ruler |  |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme $=Value |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She measured the line with a ruler: 8 inches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x4:1
# text = She measured the line with a ruler: 8 inches.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	measured	measure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	inches	inch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | past | She | the line |  |  |  | with a ruler | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme line=Value |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a ruler to draw a straight line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x5:1
# text = Use a ruler to draw a straight line.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a ruler |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ruler=Patient |
| 2 | **draw** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a straight line |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Start measuring from the zero mark on the ruler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x6:1
# text = Start measuring from the zero mark on the ruler.
1	Start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	measuring	measure	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **measure** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  | the zero mark |  | on the ruler | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ruler of the kingdom was a wise old queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x7:1
# text = The ruler of the kingdom was a wise old queen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kingdom	kingdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the ruler of the kingdom | a wise old queen |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My ruler has centimeters on one side and inches on the other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x8:1
# text = My ruler has centimeters on one side and inches on the other.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	centimeters	centimeter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	inches	inch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My ruler | centimeters |  | one side and inches on the other |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent centimeter=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rulers of ancient Egypt were called pharaohs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x9:1
# text = Rulers of ancient Egypt were called pharaohs.
1	Rulers	ruler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	pharaohs	pharaoh	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | Rulers of ancient Egypt |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was a wonderful woman, and an able ruler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruler:x10:1
# text = She was a wonderful woman, and an able ruler.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wonderful	wonderful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | a wonderful woman and a able ruler |  |  |  |  | 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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