---
title: scum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scum» in the school dictionary: A dirty layer that forms on top of a liquid, like on a pond or bath water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dirty layer, insulting word, green scum, you, Soap scum, bath · **What happens:** form, think, be, skim, make, look · **To what, where:** top, pond, scum, soup, bath, fish tank · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dirty layer that forms on top of a liquid, like on a pond or bath water.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:m1:1
# text = A dirty layer that forms on top of a liquid, like on a pond or bath water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	acl:relcl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	bath	bath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | a dirty layer |  |  | top of a liquid |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on top=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
An insulting word for people thought to be very bad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:m2:1
# text = An insulting word for people thought to be very bad.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	insulting	insulting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | a insulting word for people |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was green scum on the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x1:1
# text = There was green scum on the pond.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | green scum |  |  | the pond; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on pond=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skim the scum off the soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x2:1
# text = Skim the scum off the soup.
1	Skim	skim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	soup	soup	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 | **skim** | imperative | you *not said here* | the scum |  | the soup |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent scum=Theme off soup=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soap scum makes the bath look dirty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x3:1
# text = Soap scum makes the bath look dirty.
1	Soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bath	bath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Soap scum | the bath |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | the bath *not said here* |  |  |  |  | dirty *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scum floated on top of the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x4:1
# text = The scum floated on top of the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	floated	float	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **float** | participle |  | the scum *not said here* |  | top of the water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on top=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We cleaned the scum from the fish tank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x5:1
# text = We cleaned the scum from the fish tank.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cleaned	clean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	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 | **clean** | past | We | the scum |  | the fish tank |  |  | vn clear-10.3 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent scum=Theme from tank=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not drink water with scum on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x6:1
# text = Do not drink water with scum on it.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	drink	drink	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **drink** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | water |  | scum |  | with scum | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I take them when they come in my way, but I do not hunt the Bandar-log, or frogs--or green scum on a water-hole, for that matter.”

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scum:x7:1
# text = I take them when they come in my way, but I do not hunt the Bandar-log, or frogs--or green scum on a water-hole, for that matter.”
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	hunt	hunt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	Bandar	Bandar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	scum	scum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
27	on	on	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
29	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
33	for	for	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	35	det	_	_
35	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | I | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | present | they |  |  | my way |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Location |
| 3 | **not** **hunt** | present · do-support | I | the Bandar log |  |  |  | for that matter; frogs *obl*; green scum on a water hole *obl* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent log=Location for matter=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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