---
title: teaspoon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «teaspoon» in the school dictionary: A teaspoon is a small spoon used for stirring tea or coffee and for eating some foods. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# teaspoon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** teaspoon, you, medicine dose, Three teaspoons, recipe, 1 teaspoon · **What happens:** be, use, stir, eat, hold, add · **To what, where:** small spoon, tea, foods, amount, one teaspoon, one ml spoonful · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A teaspoon is a small spoon used for stirring tea or coffee and for eating some foods.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:m1:1
# text = A teaspoon is a small spoon used for stirring tea or coffee and for eating some foods.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teaspoon	teaspoon	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	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stirring	stir	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
16	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	17	det	_	_
17	foods	food	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a teaspoon | a small spoon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a small spoon *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **stir** | gerund |  | tea or coffee |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus tea=Experiencer |
| 4 | **eat** | gerund |  | some foods |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=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 teaspoon, or teaspoonful, is the amount a teaspoon holds, used as a measure in cooking and for medicine: about 5 millilitres.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:m2:1
# text = A teaspoon, or teaspoonful, is the amount a teaspoon holds, used as a measure in cooking and for medicine: about 5 millilitres.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	teaspoonful	teaspoonful	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	measure	measure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	cooking	cooking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
24	about	about	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	26	nummod	_	_
26	millilitres	millilitre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a teaspoon or teaspoonful | the amount and 5 millilitres |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | a teaspoon | the amount and 5 millilitres *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | the amount and 5 millilitres *not said here* |  |  |  | as a measure in cooking and medicine | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add one teaspoon of salt to the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x1:1
# text = Add one teaspoon of salt to the water.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | one teaspoon of salt |  |  |  | to the water | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent teaspoon=Patient to water=Co-Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stir your tea with a teaspoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x2:1
# text = Stir your tea with a teaspoon.
1	Stir	stir	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stir** | imperative | you *not said here* | your tea |  |  |  | with a teaspoon | vn shake-22.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent tea=Patient with teaspoon=Co-Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The medicine dose is one 5 ml spoonful, like a teaspoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x3:1
# text = The medicine dose is one 5 ml spoonful, like a teaspoon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	dose	dose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
6	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	ml	ml	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	spoonful	spoonful	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the medicine dose | one ml spoonful and a teaspoon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three teaspoons make one tablespoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x4:1
# text = Three teaspoons make one tablespoon.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	teaspoons	teaspoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	tablespoon	tablespoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Three teaspoons | one tablespoon |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material tablespoon=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The recipe says ½ tsp baking powder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x5:1
# text = The recipe says ½ tsp baking powder.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	recipe	recipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	½	½	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	tsp	tsp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	baking	baking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	powder	powder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the recipe |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a level teaspoon of sugar, not a heaped one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x6:1
# text = Use a level teaspoon of sugar, not a heaped one.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	heaped	heap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a level teaspoon of sugar and a heaped one |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teaspoon=Patient |
| 2 | **heap** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If 1 teaspoon holds 5 ml, then 4 teaspoons hold 20 ml.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teaspoon:x7:1
# text = If 1 teaspoon holds 5 ml, then 4 teaspoons hold 20 ml.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	ml	ml	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
9	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	teaspoons	teaspoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	ml	ml	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | 1 teaspoon | 5 ml |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ml=Theme |
| 2 | **hold** | present | 4 teaspoons | 20 ml |  |  | then |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ml=Theme |

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**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.

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