---
title: substance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «substance» in the school dictionary: A material or kind of matter with particular qualities, like a sticky substance, or a chemical substance such as water, salt or iron. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# substance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Something, Water, substance, strange green substance, you, Cleaning products · **What happens:** mean, not talk, be, ooze, not taste, clean · **To what, where:** something, substance, solid, tube, unknown substance, harmful substances · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«substance» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [substance in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/substance.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A material or kind of matter with particular qualities, like a sticky substance, or a chemical substance such as water, salt or iron.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:m1:1
# text = A material or kind of matter with particular qualities, like a sticky substance, or a chemical substance such as water, salt or iron.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	qualities	quality	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	_
20	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	22	case	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	parataxis	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The most important part or real meaning of something: the substance of the story.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:m2:1
# text = The most important part or real meaning of something: the substance of the story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	3	advmod	_	_
3	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom meaning «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something solid and real, not just talk: there was no substance to the rumour.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:m3:1
# text = Something solid and real, not just talk: there was no substance to the rumour.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
2	solid	solid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	11	expl	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
13	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **talk** | infinitive | Something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Something | no substance |  |  |  | to the rumour | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water is a substance that can be a solid, a liquid or a gas.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x1:1
# text = Water is a substance that can be a solid, a liquid or a gas.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	solid	solid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Water | a substance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | can | a substance | a solid and a liquid or a gas |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A strange green substance oozed out of the tube.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x2:1
# text = A strange green substance oozed out of the tube.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	oozed	ooze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tube	tube	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 | **ooze** | past | a strange green substance |  |  | the tube |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out tube=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never taste an unknown substance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x3:1
# text = Never taste an unknown substance.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	taste	taste	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **taste** | imperative | you *not said here* | a unknown substance |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Theme substance=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cleaning products contain harmful substances.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x4:1
# text = Cleaning products contain harmful substances.
1	Cleaning	clean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	products	product	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	substances	substance	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 | **clean** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **contain** | present | Cleaning products | harmful substances |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot substance=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Salt and sugar are both white substances, but they taste different.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x5:1
# text = Salt and sugar are both white substances, but they taste different.
1	Salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	both	both	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	substances	substance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	taste	taste	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Salt and sugar | white substances |  |  |  | both *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **taste** | present | Salt |  |  |  |  | different *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mixing two substances can make a new substance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x6:1
# text = Mixing two substances can make a new substance.
1	Mixing	mix	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	substances	substance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix** | gerund |  | two substances |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent substance=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | can | Mixing | a new substance |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset substance=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said my essay had good substance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x7:1
# text = The teacher said my essay had good substance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | past | my essay | good substance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent substance=Patient |
| 3 | **essay** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was no substance to the rumour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x8:1
# text = There was no substance to the rumour.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no substance to the rumour |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spade struck against a hard substance; it was a stone, that shone dazzling white.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substance:x9:1
# text = The spade struck against a hard substance; it was a stone, that shone dazzling white.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	dazzling	dazzle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	xcomp	_	_
17	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | the spade |  |  | a hard substance |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against substance=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | past | spade | a stone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shine** | past | a stone |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **dazzle** | gerund | a stone *not said here* | white |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus white=Experiencer |

<!-- 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 -->
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