---
title: shadow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shadow» in the school dictionary: A shadow is a dark shape made on a surface when something blocks the light. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shadow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** shadow, something, light, their, person, My · **What happens:** be, make, block, not reach, learn, job · **To what, where:** dark shape, surface, light, area, job, person

<!-- .vabout -->
«shadow» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [shadow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shadow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shadow is a dark shape made on a surface when something blocks the light.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:m1:1
# text = A shadow is a dark shape made on a surface when something blocks the light.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shadow	shadow	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	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
13	blocks	block	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shadow | a dark shape |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a dark shape *not said here* |  | a surface |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **block** | present | something | the light |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer light=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 -->
Shadow is an area of darkness where light does not reach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:m2:1
# text = Shadow is an area of darkness where light does not reach.
1	Shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	darkness	darkness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shadow | a area |  |  |  | of darkness | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **reach** | present · do-support | light |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shadow someone is to follow them closely, often to learn their job.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:m3:1
# text = To shadow someone is to follow them closely, often to learn their job.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	compound	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
13	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | shadow *obl*; closely, follow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive |  | their job |  |  |  | often *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Topic |
| 3 | **job** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shadow can also be a person who follows someone everywhere, staying close to them.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:m4:1
# text = A shadow can also be a person who follows someone everywhere, staying close to them.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	follows	follow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
14	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	13	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a shadow | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | present | a person | someone |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 3 | **stay** | gerund | a person *not said here* |  | them *= they* |  |  | close *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My shadow follows me on a sunny day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x1:1
# text = My shadow follows me on a sunny day.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	follows	follow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sunny	sunny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | My shadow | me |  |  | day |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **shadow** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom shadow «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At noon our shadows are short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x2:1
# text = At noon our shadows are short.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	noon	noon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	shadows	shadow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	short	short	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 | our shadows |  |  |  | noon | short *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shadow** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom shadow «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made animal shadows with our hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x3:1
# text = We made animal shadows with our hands.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	shadows	shadow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | animal shadows |  |  |  | with our hands | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shadow=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat sat in the shadow of the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x4:1
# text = The cat sat in the shadow of the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | the cat |  |  | the shadow of the tree |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in shadow=Location |
| 2 | **shadow** |  |  | the tree |  |  |  |  | nom shadow «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shadow forms when light is blocked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x5:1
# text = A shadow forms when light is blocked.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	blocked	block	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | a shadow |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **block** | present · passive |  | light |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shadows are longer in the evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x6:1
# text = Shadows are longer in the evening.
1	Shadows	shadow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 | Shadows |  |  |  | in the evening | long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new pupil shadowed a buddy on her first day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x7:1
# text = The new pupil shadowed a buddy on her first day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shadowed	shadow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	buddy	buddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shadow** | past | the new pupil | a buddy |  |  | day |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent buddy=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without a shadow of a doubt, she is the fastest runner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x8:1
# text = Without a shadow of a doubt, she is the fastest runner.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	fastest	fast	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	amod	_	_
12	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | she | the fastest runner |  |  |  | without a shadow of a doubt | tree rules |
| 2 | **shadow** |  |  | a doubt |  |  |  |  | nom shadow «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Will you go with me, as shadow?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shadow:x9:1
# text = Will you go with me, as shadow?
1	Will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | future | you |  |  |  |  | with me | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent with i=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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