---
title: sow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sow» in the school dictionary: To plant seeds in the ground. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, Farmers, sow, you, lies, His · **What happens:** plant, cause, start, spread, sow, have · **To what, where:** seeds, ground, something, doubt, sunflower seeds, pots

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«sow» 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: [sow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, rhymes with go — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To plant seeds in the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:m1:1
# text = To plant seeds in the ground.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	plant	plant	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | to-infinitive |  | seeds |  | the ground |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent seed=Theme in ground=Destination |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cause something to start or spread: sow doubt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:m2:1
# text = To cause something to start or spread: sow doubt.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cause	cause	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	sow	sow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition something=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **spread** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **sow** | infinitive |  | doubt |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent doubt=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun, rhymes with cow — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An adult female pig.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:m3:1
# text = An adult female pig.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	adult	adult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	female	female	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	pig	pig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sowed sunflower seeds in pots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x1:1
# text = We sowed sunflower seeds in pots.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sowed	sow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sunflower	sunflower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** | past | We | sunflower seeds |  | pots |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent seed=Theme in pot=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Farmers sow wheat in autumn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x2:1
# text = Farmers sow wheat in autumn.
1	Farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sow	sow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wheat	wheat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	autumn	autumn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** | present | Farmers | wheat |  |  | autumn |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wheat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sow had ten piglets.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the sow | ten piglets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piglet=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sow the seeds 2 cm apart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x4:1
# text = Sow the seeds 2 cm apart.
1	Sow	sow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** | imperative | you *not said here* | the seeds |  |  |  | apart *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent seed=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His lies sowed doubt in our minds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x5:1
# text = His lies sowed doubt in our minds.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sowed	sow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	minds	mind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** | past | His lies | doubt |  | our minds |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent doubt=Theme in mind=Destination |
| 2 | **lie** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom lie «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 3 | **mind** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You reap what you sow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x6:1
# text = You reap what you sow.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reap	reap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sow	sow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reap** | present | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sow** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent what=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Who sowed this sort of corn?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sow:x7:1
# text = "Who sowed this sort of corn?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sowed	sow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sort	sort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sow** *in a quote* | past |  | this sort of corn |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent sort=Theme |
| 2 | **sort** *in a quote* |  |  | corn |  |  |  |  | nom sort «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

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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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