---
title: sterling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sterling» in the school dictionary: Sterling is the money of the United Kingdom; its main unit is the pound (£). «Pound sterling» is its full name. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sterling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sterling, main unit, silver silver, £ sterling, necklace, volunteers · **What happens:** be, pound, mean, give, do, change · **To what, where:** money, pound, sterling, full name, silver silver, price

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sterling is the money of the United Kingdom; its main unit is the pound (£). «Pound sterling» is its full name.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Sterling is the money of the United Kingdom; its main unit is the pound (£).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:m1:1
# text = Sterling is the money of the United Kingdom; its main unit is the pound (£).
1	Sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	United	United	PROPN	NNP	_	8	flat	_	_
8	Kingdom	Kingdom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pound	pound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	£	£	SYM	$	_	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sterling | the money |  |  |  | of the United Kingdom | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Sterling's main unit | the pound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «Pound sterling» is its full name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:m1:2
# text = «Pound sterling» is its full name.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Pound	pound	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	nsubj	_	_
3	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	name	name	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 | **pound** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | sterling |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sterling=Product |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | Sterling's full name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sterling silver is silver that is 92.5% pure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:m2:1
# text = Sterling silver is silver that is 92.5% pure.
1	Sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	92.5	92.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	%	%	SYM	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sterling (adjective) means excellent and reliable: sterling work, a sterling effort.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:m3:1
# text = Sterling (adjective) means excellent and reliable: sterling work, a sterling effort.
1	Sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	excellent	excellent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	reliable	reliable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	sterling	sterling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Sterling |  |  |  |  | excellent *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The price is given in pounds sterling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x1:1
# text = The price is given in pounds sterling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	compound	_	_
7	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | the price |  | pounds sterling |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
£1 sterling is worth 100 pence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x2:1
# text = £1 sterling is worth 100 pence.
1	£	£	SYM	$	_	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	nummod	_	_
3	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	pence	pence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | £ sterling |  |  |  |  | worth *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma's necklace is sterling silver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x3:1
# text = Grandma's necklace is sterling silver.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	necklace	necklace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	sterling	sterling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Grandma's necklace | sterling silver |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The volunteers did sterling work at the fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x4:1
# text = The volunteers did sterling work at the fair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	volunteers	volunteer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fair	fair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the volunteers | sterling work |  | the fair |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We changed our sterling into euros for the trip to Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x5:1
# text = We changed our sterling into euros for the trip to Ireland.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	euros	euro	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | We | our sterling |  | euros |  | for the trip to Ireland | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent sterling=Theme for trip=Co-Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper made a sterling save.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x6:1
# text = The goalkeeper made a sterling save.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	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	sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	save	save	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sterling is one of the oldest currencies still used.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sterling:x7:1
# text = Sterling is one of the oldest currencies still used.
1	Sterling	sterling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|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	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	currencies	currency	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	still	still	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sterling | one |  |  |  | of the oldest currencies | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | the oldest currencies *not said here* |  |  | still |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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