---
title: subduction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subduction» in the school dictionary: Subduction is when one of the Earth's tectonic plates slides down underneath another plate and sinks into the hot mantle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# subduction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Subduction, subduction zone, this, one plate, Japan, Volcanoes · **What happens:** be, sink, happen, have, make, form · **To what, where:** hot mantle, place, another, many earthquakes, Mariana Trench, subduction zones

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subduction is when one of the Earth's tectonic plates slides down underneath another plate and sinks into the hot mantle.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:m1:1
# text = Subduction is when one of the Earth's tectonic plates slides down underneath another plate and sinks into the hot mantle.
1	Subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:outer	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	tectonic	tectonic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
11	slides	slide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	down	down	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	underneath	underneath	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	15	det	_	_
15	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	sinks	sink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	into	into	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	mantle	mantle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Subduction |  |  |  |  | down, slide, underneath *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sink** | present | Subduction *not said here* |  |  | the hot mantle |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 subduction zone is the place where this happens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:m2:1
# text = A subduction zone is the place where this happens.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	zone	zone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	9	advmod	_	_
8	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	nsubj	_	_
9	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a subduction zone | the place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | present | this |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subduction happens when one plate sinks under another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x1:1
# text = Subduction happens when one plate sinks under another.
1	Subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sinks	sink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Subduction |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sink** | present | one plate |  |  | another |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Japan has many earthquakes because of subduction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x2:1
# text = Japan has many earthquakes because of subduction.
1	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Japan | many earthquakes |  |  |  | because subduction | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earthquake=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mariana Trench was made by subduction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x3:1
# text = The Mariana Trench was made by subduction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mariana	Mariana	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Trench	Trench	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive | subduction | the Mariana Trench |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset subject=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Volcanoes often form above subduction zones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x4:1
# text = Volcanoes often form above subduction zones.
1	Volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	form	form	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	above	above	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	zones	zone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | Volcanoes |  |  | subduction zones |  | often *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme above zone=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake in a subduction zone.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x5:1
# text = The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake in a subduction zone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	2004	2004	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	compound	_	_
3	Indian	Indian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	Ocean	Ocean	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tsunami	tsunami	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	zone	zone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past · passive | a earthquake in a subduction zone | the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ocean plates are heavier, so they sink in subduction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x6:1
# text = Ocean plates are heavier, so they sink in subduction.
1	Ocean	Ocean	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	heavier	heavy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sink	sink	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ocean plates |  |  |  |  | heavy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sink** | present | plates *= plate* |  |  | subduction |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw a diagram of a subduction zone with arrows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subduction:x7:1
# text = Draw a diagram of a subduction zone with arrows.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	subduction	subduction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	zone	zone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	arrows	arrow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | a diagram of a subduction zone with arrows |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent diagram=Theme |

<!-- 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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