---
title: shilling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shilling» in the school dictionary: An old British coin worth 12 old pennies; 20 shillings made one pound. It was used until 1971, when British money became decimal. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shilling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** old British coin, British money, shilling, 20 shillings, milk, Kenya · **What happens:** make, use, become, be, cost, remember · **To what, where:** one pound, coin, decimal, money, countries, one shilling

<!-- .vabout -->
«shilling» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [shilling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shilling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: history, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old British coin worth 12 old pennies; 20 shillings made one pound. It was used until 1971, when British money became decimal.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* An old British coin worth 12 old pennies; 20 shillings made one pound.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:m1:1
# text = An old British coin worth 12 old pennies; 20 shillings made one pound.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
5	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pennies	penny	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	shillings	shilling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	pound	pound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | a old British coin  worth 12 old pennies | one pound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pound=Product |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It was used until 1971, when British money became decimal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:m1:2
# text = It was used until 1971, when British money became decimal.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	until	until	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	1971	1971	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
8	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	decimal	decimal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | coin |  |  | until 1971 |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **become** | past | British money | decimal |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The money used today in some countries, such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:m2:1
# text = The money used today in some countries, such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	Uganda	Uganda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Tanzania	Tanzania	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	Somalia	Somalia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | the money *not said here* |  | some countries such Kenya and Uganda and Tanzania and Somalia | today |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, history — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old coin in those places too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:m3:1
# text = An old coin in those places too.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Before 1971, a shilling was worth 12 pennies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x1:1
# text = Before 1971, a shilling was worth 12 pennies.
1	Before	before	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	1971	1971	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	pennies	penny	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 | **is** | past | a shilling |  |  |  | before 1971 | worth *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were 20 shillings in a pound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x2:1
# text = There were 20 shillings in a pound.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	shillings	shilling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pound	pound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | 20 shillings in a pound |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The milk cost one shilling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x3:1
# text = The milk cost one shilling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cost	cost	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x4:1
# text = Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling.
1	Kenya	kenya	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Kenyan	kenyan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Kenya | the Kenyan shilling |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shilling=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad remembers buying sweets for a shilling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x5:1
# text = Grandad remembers buying sweets for a shilling.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	remembers	remember	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remember** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **buy** | gerund | Grandad *not said here* | sweets |  |  |  | for a shilling | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent sweet=Theme for shilling=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old maths books, sums are in pounds, shillings and pence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x6:1
# text = In old maths books, sums are in pounds, shillings and pence.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	compound	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	sums	sum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	shillings	shilling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	pence	pence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | sums |  |  | pounds and shillings and pence |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very likely thou art a lucky shilling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shilling:x7:1
# text = Very likely thou art a lucky shilling.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	thou	thou	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	4	nsubj	_	_
4	art	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Style=Arch|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shilling	shilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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