---
title: spade — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spade» in the school dictionary: A spade is a garden tool with a long handle and a flat metal blade, used for digging. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spade

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spade, Spades, Dad, I, ace, you · **What happens:** be, use, dig, show, plant, take · **To what, where:** garden tool, small plastic tool, sand, one, four suits, hole · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spade is a garden tool with a long handle and a flat metal blade, used for digging.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:m1:1
# text = A spade is a garden tool with a long handle and a flat metal blade, used for digging.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	digging	digging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spade | a garden tool |  |  |  | with a long handle and a flat metal blade | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a garden tool *not said here* |  |  |  | for digging | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 spade is a small plastic tool for digging in sand at the beach.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:m2:1
# text = A spade is a small plastic tool for digging in sand at the beach.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	digging	dig	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spade | a small plastic tool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | gerund | a spade *not said here* |  |  | sand |  | at the beach | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at beach=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spades are one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards, shown by a black ♠ shape.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:m3:1
# text = Spades are one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards, shown by a black ♠ shape.
1	Spades	spade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	suits	suit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	playing	playing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	shown	show	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
18	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
19	♠	♠	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spades | one |  |  |  | of the four suits in a pack of playing cards | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | participle |  | the four suits in a pack of playing cards *not said here* |  |  |  | by a black ♠ shape | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad dug a hole with the spade to plant the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x1:1
# text = Dad dug a hole with the spade to plant the tree.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	plant	plant	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | Dad | a hole |  |  |  | with the spade | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme PP.instsrument»: agent=Agent hole=Theme with spade=Instrument |
| 2 | **plant** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the tree |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I took my bucket and spade to the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x2:1
# text = I took my bucket and spade to the beach.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bucket	bucket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | I | my bucket and spade |  | the beach |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bucket=Theme to beach=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ace of spades is a black card.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x3:1
# text = The ace of spades is a black card.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ace	ace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	spades	spade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the ace of spades | a black card |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clean the spade after you use it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x4:1
# text = Clean the spade after you use it.
1	Clean	clean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | imperative | you *not said here* | the spade |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent spade=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present | you | spade |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used a spade to dig up potatoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x5:1
# text = We used a spade to dig up potatoes.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	potatoes	potato	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a spade |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spade=Patient |
| 2 | **dig up** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | potatoes |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent potato=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She likes to call a spade a spade and say what she thinks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x6:1
# text = She likes to call a spade a spade and say what she thinks.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
12	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | a spade |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent spade=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | present | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 13 spades in a pack of cards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x7:1
# text = There are 13 spades in a pack of cards.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	spades	spade	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	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 13 spades |  |  | a pack of cards; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pack=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spade struck against a hard substance; it was a stone, that shone dazzling white.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spade:x8:1
# text = The spade struck against a hard substance; it was a stone, that shone dazzling white.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	dazzling	dazzle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	xcomp	_	_
17	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | the spade |  |  | a hard substance |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against substance=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | past | spade | a stone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shine** | past | a stone |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **dazzle** | gerund | a stone *not said here* | white |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus white=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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