---
title: staircase — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «staircase» in the school dictionary: A staircase is a set of steps going up from one floor to another, often with a rail to hold. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# staircase

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** staircase, steps, spiral staircase, floor, many steps, She · **What happens:** be, go up, hold, go, have, climb · **To what, where:** set, one floor, 15 steps, staircase, rail, long spiral staircase

<!-- .vabout -->
«staircase» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [staircase in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/staircase.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A staircase is a set of steps going up from one floor to another, often with a rail to hold.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:m1:1
# text = A staircase is a set of steps going up from one floor to another, often with a rail to hold.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	up	up	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a staircase | a set and a rail |  |  |  | of steps | tree rules |
| 2 | **go up** | gerund | steps *not said here* |  |  | one floor |  | to another *result* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V PP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient from floor=Initial\_State to another=Result |
| 3 | **hold** | to-infinitive | a staircase *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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 spiral staircase goes round and round.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:m2:1
# text = A spiral staircase goes round and round.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	round	round	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	round	round	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | a spiral staircase |  |  |  |  | round *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The staircase has 15 steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x1:1
# text = The staircase has 15 steps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	steps	step	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** | present | the staircase | 15 steps |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each floor has a staircase of 18 steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x2:1
# text = Each floor has a staircase of 18 steps.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each floor | a staircase of 18 steps |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent staircase=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many steps are there to the 4th floor?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x3:1
# text = How many steps are there to the 4th floor?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	4th	4th	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | many steps |  |  |  |  | to the 4th floor; there *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She climbs the staircase 3 times a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x4:1
# text = She climbs the staircase 3 times a day.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbs	climb	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | present | She | the staircase |  |  | time |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location staircase=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the rail when you go down the staircase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x5:1
# text = Hold the rail when you go down the staircase.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rail	rail	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	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the rail |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rail=Theme |
| 2 | **go down** | present | you | the staircase |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient staircase=Extent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lighthouse has a long spiral staircase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x6:1
# text = The lighthouse has a long spiral staircase.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lighthouse	lighthouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the lighthouse | a long spiral staircase |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent staircase=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle had a hidden staircase behind the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x7:1
# text = The castle had a hidden staircase behind the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and Michael hastily followed them.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:staircase:x8:1
# text = All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and Michael hastily followed them.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	princesses	princess	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	disappeared	disappear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	Michael	Michael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	hastily	hastily	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disappear down** | past | all princesses | a secret staircase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | past | Michael | princesses *= princess* |  |  |  | hastily *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

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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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