---
title: tablecloth — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tablecloth» in the school dictionary: A tablecloth is a large piece of cloth that covers a table, especially during meals, to protect it and make it look nice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tablecloth

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tablecloth, large piece, you, we, I, magician · **What happens:** be, cover, protect, make, look, put on · **To what, where:** large piece, table, tablecloth, juice, white tablecloth, lace edges

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tablecloth is a large piece of cloth that covers a table, especially during meals, to protect it and make it look nice.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:m1:1
# text = A tablecloth is a large piece of cloth that covers a table, especially during meals, to protect it and make it look nice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	during	during	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	meals	meal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	parataxis	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	conj	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obj	_	_
24	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	xcomp	_	_
25	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tablecloth | a large piece |  |  |  | of cloth | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | present | a large piece | a table and meals |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme table=Destination |
| 3 | **protect** | to-infinitive |  | tablecloth |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  | tablecloth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **look** | infinitive | tablecloth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the tablecloth on before we lay the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x1:1
# text = Put the tablecloth on before we lay the table.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put on** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tablecloth |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent tablecloth=Goal |
| 2 | **lay** | present | we | the table |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent table=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I spilled juice on the white tablecloth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x2:1
# text = I spilled juice on the white tablecloth.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spilled	spill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tablecloth	tablecloth	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 | **spill** | past | I | juice |  | the white tablecloth |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location juice=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma's tablecloth has lace edges.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x3:1
# text = Grandma's tablecloth has lace edges.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	lace	lace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	edges	edge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandma's tablecloth | lace edges |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent edge=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magician pulled the tablecloth away and the plates stayed still.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x4:1
# text = The magician pulled the tablecloth away and the plates stayed still.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pulled	pull	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	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	still	still	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull away** | past | the magician | the tablecloth |  |  |  | away *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | past | the plates |  |  |  | still |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let the baby pull on the tablecloth; the teapot could fall.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x5:1
# text = Don't let the baby pull on the tablecloth; the teapot could fall.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pull	pull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	teapot	teapot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the baby pull |  | the tablecloth |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent pull=Theme on tablecloth=Asset |
| 2 | **fall** | could | the teapot |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We spread a tablecloth on the grass for our picnic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x6:1
# text = We spread a tablecloth on the grass for our picnic.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	picnic	picnic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | We | a tablecloth |  | the grass |  | for our picnic | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent tablecloth=Theme on grass=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After dinner, shake the crumbs off the tablecloth outside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x7:1
# text = After dinner, shake the crumbs off the tablecloth outside.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	shake	shake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | imperative | you *not said here* | the crumbs |  | the tablecloth | after dinner | outside *property* | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent crumb=Theme off tablecloth=Trajectory |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tablecloth has a red and white checked pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x8:1
# text = The tablecloth has a red and white checked pattern.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tablecloth	tablecloth	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	9	det	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	checked	check	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the tablecloth | a red checked pattern |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pattern=Patient |
| 2 | **check** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the middle of the room there stood a little table, covered with a white tablecloth, and seven little plates and forks and spoons and knives and tumblers.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tablecloth:x9:1
# text = In the middle of the room there stood a little table, covered with a white tablecloth, and seven little plates and forks and spoons and knives and tumblers.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	tablecloth	tablecloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	22	nummod	_	_
21	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	forks	fork	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	spoons	spoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	knives	knife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	tumblers	tumbler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past |  | a little table |  | the middle of the room; there |  | seven little plates and forks and spoons and knives and tumblers *obl* | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent table=Theme in middle=Destination |
| 2 | **cover** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with a white tablecloth | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with tablecloth=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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