---
title: soil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «soil» in the school dictionary: The top layer of the ground in which plants grow, made of tiny bits of rock, dead plants and animals, water and air. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# soil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** plants, Earthworms, Sandy soil, Clay soil, soil, you · **What happens:** grow, make, let, drain, be, wash · **To what, where:** ground, top layer, something, soil, hands, compost

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The top layer of the ground in which plants grow, made of tiny bits of rock, dead plants and animals, water and air.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:m1:1
# text = The top layer of the ground in which plants grow, made of tiny bits of rock, dead plants and animals, water and air.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
9	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | plants |  |  | the ground |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in which=Location |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | the top layer of the ground *not said here* |  |  |  | of tiny bits of rock and dead plants and animals and water and air | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Land or country: «on British soil».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:m2:1
# text = Land or country: «on British soil».
1	Land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to make something dirty (formal).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:m3:1
# text = Verb: to make something dirty (formal).
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants grow in soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x1:1
# text = Plants grow in soil.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Plants |  |  | soil |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in soil=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earthworms make the soil healthy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x2:1
# text = Earthworms make the soil healthy.
1	Earthworms	earthworm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Earthworms | the soil |  |  |  | healthy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset soil=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sandy soil lets water drain quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x3:1
# text = Sandy soil lets water drain quickly.
1	Sandy	sandy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lets	let	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	drain	drain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present | Sandy soil |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drain** | infinitive | Sandy soil *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP.Source V»: agent=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay soil is sticky when it's wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x4:1
# text = Clay soil is sticky when it's wet.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Clay soil |  |  |  |  | sticky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | soil |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands after touching soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x5:1
# text = Wash your hands after touching soil.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	touching	touch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **touch** | gerund | you *not said here* | soil |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme soil=Co-Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We put compost in the soil to help the vegetables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x6:1
# text = We put compost in the soil to help the vegetables.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	compost	compost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	vegetables	vegetable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | We | compost |  | the soil |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent compost=Theme in soil=Destination |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the vegetables |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vegetable=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tree roots hold the soil in place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x7:1
# text = Tree roots hold the soil in place.
1	Tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | Tree roots | the soil |  | place |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent soil=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soil was dry because it hadn't rained.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x8:1
# text = The soil was dry because it hadn't rained.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	rained	rain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the soil |  |  |  |  | dry *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **rain** | past · perfect · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He looked, and saw peasants tilling the soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soil:x9:1
# text = He looked, and saw peasants tilling the soil.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	tilling	till	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **see** | past | He *not said here* | peasants |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer peasant=Stimulus |
| 3 | **till** | gerund | peasants *not said here* | the soil |  |  |  |  | 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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