---
title: subsidence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subsidence» in the school dictionary: Subsidence is when the ground slowly sinks lower, which can crack buildings, roads and walls. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsidence/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / subsidence

# subsidence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Subsidence, ground, Old coal mines, Dry summers, surveyor, Pumping · **What happens:** be, sink, crack, mean, feel, die down · **To what, where:** buildings, thing, big cracks, wall, road, subsidence

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subsidence is when the ground slowly sinks lower, which can crack buildings, roads and walls.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:m1:1
# text = Subsidence is when the ground slowly sinks lower, which can crack buildings, roads and walls.
1	Subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	sinks	sink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl:relcl	_	_
8	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	crack	crack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Subsidence |  |  |  |  | when *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sink** | present | the ground |  |  |  |  | low, slowly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **crack** | can |  | buildings and roads and walls |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location building=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 -->
Subsidence can also mean a thing such as a flood, storm or feeling dying down.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:m2:1
# text = Subsidence can also mean a thing such as a flood, storm or feeling dying down.
1	Subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
15	dying	die	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	ccomp	_	_
16	down	down	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Subsidence | a thing |  |  |  | such a flood and storm | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 2 | **feel** | gerund | Subsidence *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **die down** | gerund | Subsidence *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subsidence caused big cracks in the wall of the old house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x1:1
# text = Subsidence caused big cracks in the wall of the old house.
1	Subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cracks	crack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Subsidence | big cracks |  | the wall of the old house |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition crack=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The road was closed because of subsidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x2:1
# text = The road was closed because of subsidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	subsidence	subsidence	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 | **close** | past · passive |  | the road |  |  |  | because subsidence | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old coal mines can cause subsidence above them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x3:1
# text = Old coal mines can cause subsidence above them.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	coal	coal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mines	mine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Old coal mines | subsidence |  |  |  | above them *= they* | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition subsidence=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dry summers can shrink clay soil and lead to subsidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x4:1
# text = Dry summers can shrink clay soil and lead to subsidence.
1	Dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	summers	summer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	shrink	shrink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrink** | can | Dry summers | clay soil and lead |  |  |  | to subsidence *result* | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent soil=Patient to subsidence=Result |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surveyor checked the house for subsidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x5:1
# text = The surveyor checked the house for subsidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	surveyor	surveyor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | the surveyor | the house |  |  |  | for subsidence | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent house=Theme for subsidence=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pumping out too much groundwater can cause subsidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x6:1
# text = Pumping out too much groundwater can cause subsidence.
1	Pumping	pump	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	groundwater	groundwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pump out** | gerund |  | much groundwater |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent groundwater=Theme |
| 2 | **cause** | can | Pumping | subsidence |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition subsidence=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the subsidence of the floodwater, people went home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsidence:x7:1
# text = After the subsidence of the floodwater, people went home.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	subsidence	subsidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	floodwater	floodwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	home	home	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | people |  |  |  | after the subsidence of the floodwater | home *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **subside** |  | the floodwater |  |  |  |  |  | nom subsidence «event intransitive»: of=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [subside](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subside/)
- next →: [subsist](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)