---
title: tonne — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tonne» in the school dictionary: A tonne is a unit of mass equal to one thousand kilograms. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tonne

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tonne, elephant, One tonne, lorry, 3 tonnes, bag · **What happens:** be, mean, weigh, carry, have, say · **To what, where:** unit, large amount, six tonnes, twelve tonnes, 3,000 kilograms, tonne · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tonne» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [tonne in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tonne.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tonne is a unit of mass equal to one thousand kilograms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:m1:1
# text = A tonne is a unit of mass equal to one thousand kilograms.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tonne	tonne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	unit	unit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
7	mass	mass	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
8	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	compound	_	_
11	thousand	thousand	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tonne | a unit |  |  |  | of mass equal thousand kilograms | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Informally, «a tonne» or «tonnes» means a very large amount, as in «tonnes of homework».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:m2:1
# text = Informally, «a tonne» or «tonnes» means a very large amount, as in «tonnes of homework».
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tonne	tonne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	very	very	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	appos	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a tonne or tonnes | a large amount |  |  |  | informally *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elephant can weigh about six tonnes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x1:1
# text = An elephant can weigh about six tonnes.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	weigh	weigh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weigh** | can | a elephant | six tonnes |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme tonne=Value |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One tonne is the same as one thousand kilograms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x2:1
# text = One tonne is the same as one thousand kilograms.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	tonne	tonne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	compound	_	_
8	thousand	thousand	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | One tonne |  |  |  |  | as thousand kilograms; same *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lorry carried twelve tonnes of sand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x3:1
# text = The lorry carried twelve tonnes of sand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lorry	lorry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sand	sand	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 | **carry** | past | the lorry | twelve tonnes of sand |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tonne=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
3 tonnes is 3,000 kilograms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x4:1
# text = 3 tonnes is 3,000 kilograms.
1	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	3,000	3000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	kilograms	kilogram	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 3 tonnes | 3,000 kilograms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This bag weighs a tonne!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x5:1
# text = This bag weighs a tonne!
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	weighs	weigh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tonne	tonne	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 | **weigh** | present | this bag | a tonne |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme tonne=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had tonnes of fun at the fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x6:1
# text = We had tonnes of fun at the fair.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fair	fair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | tonnes of fun |  | the fair |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tonne=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A blue whale weighs more than one hundred tonnes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x7:1
# text = A blue whale weighs more than one hundred tonnes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	weighs	weigh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	8	advmod	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	compound	_	_
8	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weigh** | present | a blue whale | hundred tonnes |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme tonne=Value |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge sign says the limit is 7.5 tonnes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tonne:x8:1
# text = The bridge sign says the limit is 7.5 tonnes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	limit	limit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	7.5	7.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	tonnes	tonne	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the bridge sign |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the limit | 7.5 tonnes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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