---
title: spongy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spongy» in the school dictionary: Spongy means soft, squashy and full of tiny holes, like a sponge, so it springs back when pressed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spongy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spongy, sponge, ground, cake, Moss, inside · **What happens:** mean, spring back, press, describe, be, have · **To what, where:** ground, much give, dust

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spongy means soft, squashy and full of tiny holes, like a sponge, so it springs back when pressed.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:m1:1
# text = Spongy means soft, squashy and full of tiny holes, like a sponge, so it springs back when pressed.
1	Spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	squashy	squashy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	springs	spring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	back	back	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	21	advmod	_	_
21	pressed	press	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Spongy |  |  |  |  | soft *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spring back** | present | sponge |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **press** | participle | sponge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: 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 -->
Spongy can describe ground that is soft and wet, or something that has too much give, like spongy brakes.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:m2:1
# text = Spongy can describe ground that is soft and wet, or something that has too much give, like spongy brakes.
1	Spongy	spongy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	too	too	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	give	give	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	brakes	brake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Spongy | ground |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent ground=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | ground |  |  |  |  | soft *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | ground *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **have** | present |  | much give and spongy brakes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent give=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cake was light and spongy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x1:1
# text = The cake was light and spongy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	light	light	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the cake |  |  |  |  | light *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the cake *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moss feels spongy under your feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x2:1
# text = Moss feels spongy under your feet.
1	Moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | Moss |  |  |  |  | spongy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The inside of a bone is spongy.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the inside of a bone |  |  |  |  | spongy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ground near the river was spongy and wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x4:1
# text = The ground near the river was spongy and wet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the ground near the river |  |  |  |  | spongy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the ground near the river *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bread dough becomes spongy as it rises.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x5:1
# text = Bread dough becomes spongy as it rises.
1	Bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	dough	dough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	rises	rise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | present | Bread dough |  |  |  |  | spongy *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **rise** | present | dough |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old mattress was too spongy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x6:1
# text = The old mattress was too spongy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mattress	mattress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old mattress |  |  |  |  | spongy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old beams had become worm-eaten and spongy--they lay in dust and ashes.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spongy:x7:1
# text = The old beams had become worm-eaten and spongy--they lay in dust and ashes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	beams	beam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	spongy	spongy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	ashes	ash	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past · perfect | the old beams |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | participle | the old beams *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lay** | present | beams *= beam* |  |  | dust and ashes |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in dust=Destination |

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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.

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