---
title: tectonics — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tectonics» in the school dictionary: Tectonics, or plate tectonics, is the idea that the Earth's outer shell is broken into huge pieces called plates that move very slowly, and the study of how they move. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tectonics/)

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# tectonics

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tectonics, idea, huge pieces, plates, Plate tectonics, earthquakes · **What happens:** be, break, call, move, mean, explain · **To what, where:** idea, outer shell, huge pieces, plates, big shifts, geography · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tectonics» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [tectonics in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tectonics.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tectonics, or plate tectonics, is the idea that the Earth's outer shell is broken into huge pieces called plates that move very slowly, and the study of how they move.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:m1:1
# text = Tectonics, or plate tectonics, is the idea that the Earth's outer shell is broken into huge pieces called plates that move very slowly, and the study of how they move.
1	Tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	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	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
18	into	into	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	_
21	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl	_	_
22	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	xcomp	_	_
23	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
25	very	very	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	_
31	of	of	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
32	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	34	advmod	_	_
33	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	34	nsubj	_	_
34	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tectonics or plate tectonics | the idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | present · passive | the idea *not said here* | the Earth's outer shell |  |  |  | into huge pieces *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: subject=Patient into piece=Result |
| 3 | **call** | participle | huge pieces *not said here* | plates |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **move** | present | plates |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **move** | present | Tectonics *= tectonic* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=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 -->
Tectonics can also mean big shifts or changes in politics or society (formal, figurative).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:m2:1
# text = Tectonics can also mean big shifts or changes in politics or society (formal, figurative).
1	Tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shifts	shift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	changes	change	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	politics	politics	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	figurative	figurative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Tectonics | big shifts or changes in politics or society |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shift=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plate tectonics explains why earthquakes happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x1:1
# text = Plate tectonics explains why earthquakes happen.
1	Plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explains	explain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | Plate tectonics |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | present | earthquakes |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Himalayas formed because of plate tectonics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x2:1
# text = The Himalayas formed because of plate tectonics.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Himalayas	Himalaya	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	formed	form	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | past | the Himalayas |  |  |  |  | because plate tectonics | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Iceland is splitting apart because of tectonics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x3:1
# text = Iceland is splitting apart because of tectonics.
1	Iceland	Iceland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	splitting	split	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **split** | present · progressive | Iceland |  |  |  |  | because tectonics; apart *property* | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned about tectonics in geography.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x4:1
# text = We learned about tectonics in geography.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tectonics	tectonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	geography	geography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  | geography |  | about tectonics | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about tectonic=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tectonic plates move about as fast as your fingernails grow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x5:1
# text = Tectonic plates move about as fast as your fingernails grow.
1	Tectonic	Tectonic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move about** | present | Tectonic plates |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | present | your fingernails |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
New Zealand lies where two tectonic plates meet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tectonics:x6:1
# text = New Zealand lies where two tectonic plates meet.
1	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
2	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	tectonic	tectonic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	meet	meet	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | present | New Zealand |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **meet** | present | two tectonic plates |  |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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