---
title: slab — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slab» in the school dictionary: A slab is a thick, flat piece of something hard, like stone, concrete or wood. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slab

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** slab, He, Workers, heavy slab, paving slab, butcher · **What happens:** be, make, cut, pour, cover, have · **To what, where:** thick flat piece, flat concrete floor, building, path, huge slab, concrete slab

<!-- .vabout -->
«slab» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [slab in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slab.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A slab is a thick, flat piece of something hard, like stone, concrete or wood.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:m1:1
# text = A slab is a thick, flat piece of something hard, like stone, concrete or wood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a slab | a thick flat piece |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |

<!-- .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 slab can be a thick, flat piece of food, such as a slab of cake or chocolate.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:m2:1
# text = A slab can be a thick, flat piece of food, such as a slab of cake or chocolate.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a slab | a thick flat piece and a slab of cake or chocolate |  |  |  | of food | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In building, a slab is a flat concrete floor or base.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:m3:1
# text = In building, a slab is a flat concrete floor or base.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	base	base	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a slab | a flat concrete floor or base |  | building |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The path was made of grey stone slabs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x1:1
# text = The path was made of grey stone slabs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	slabs	slab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the path |  |  |  | of grey stone slabs | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He cut a huge slab of chocolate cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x2:1
# text = He cut a huge slab of chocolate cake.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cake	cake	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 | **cut** | past | He | a huge slab of chocolate cake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slab=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers poured a concrete slab for the shed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x3:1
# text = Workers poured a concrete slab for the shed.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shed	shed	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 | **pour** | past | Workers | a concrete slab |  |  |  | for the shed | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent slab=Patient for shed=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy slab covered the old well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x4:1
# text = A heavy slab covered the old well.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	covered	cover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
7	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | past | a heavy slab | the old |  |  |  | well *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme old=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful: that paving slab is loose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x5:1
# text = Be careful: that paving slab is loose.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
5	paving	paving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	loose	loose	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | that paving slab |  |  |  |  | loose *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butcher cut a slab of meat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x6:1
# text = The butcher cut a slab of meat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butcher	butcher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | the butcher | a slab of meat |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset slab=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The garden has twelve slabs in three rows of four.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x7:1
# text = The garden has twelve slabs in three rows of four.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	slabs	slab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the garden | twelve slabs |  | three rows of four |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slab=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy stone slab was turned and then lifted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slab:x8:1
# text = A heavy stone slab was turned and then lifted.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	slab	slab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	_
9	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past · passive |  | a heavy stone slab |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **lift** | past |  |  |  |  | then |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

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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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