---
title: softball — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «softball» in the school dictionary: Softball is a team game like baseball, played on a smaller field with a bigger ball that is pitched underarm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# softball

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Softball, We, sister, He, team, 7 · **What happens:** be, play, pitch, use, cancel, hit · **To what, where:** team game, smaller field, bigger ball, ball, game, softball

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Softball is a team game like baseball, played on a smaller field with a bigger ball that is pitched underarm.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:m1:1
# text = Softball is a team game like baseball, played on a smaller field with a bigger ball that is pitched underarm.
1	Softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	baseball	baseball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	amod	_	_
17	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	pitched	pitch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl:relcl	_	_
21	underarm	underarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Softball | a team game |  |  |  | like baseball | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | participle |  | a team game *not said here* |  | a smaller field with a bigger ball |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pitch** | present · passive |  | a bigger ball |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=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 softball is the ball used in this game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:m2:1
# text = A softball is the ball used in this game.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a softball | the ball |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | the ball *not said here* |  | this game |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We play softball in PE on Fridays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x1:1
# text = We play softball in PE on Fridays.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	PE	PE	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Fridays	Friday	PROPN	NNPS	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 | **play** | present | We | softball |  | PE | friday |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent softball=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister is the pitcher on her softball team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x2:1
# text = My sister is the pitcher on her softball team.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pitcher	pitcher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My sister | the pitcher |  | her softball team |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The softball game was cancelled because of rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x3:1
# text = The softball game was cancelled because of rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | the softball game |  |  |  | because rain | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A softball is bigger than a baseball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x4:1
# text = A softball is bigger than a baseball.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	baseball	baseball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a softball |  |  |  |  | than a baseball; big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hit the softball over the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x5:1
# text = He hit the softball over the fence.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hit	hit	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	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fence	fence	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 | **hit** | past | He | the softball |  | the fence |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent softball=Theme over fence=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team scored 7 runs in the softball match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x6:1
# text = Our team scored 7 runs in the softball match.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nsubj	_	_
5	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **score** | past | Our team |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | present | 7 |  |  | the softball match |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in match=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wear a helmet when you bat in softball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softball:x7:1
# text = Wear a helmet when you bat in softball.
1	Wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	bat	bat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	softball	softball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | imperative | you *not said here* | a helmet |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |
| 2 | **bat** |  | you |  |  | softball |  |  | 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 -->

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