---
title: topsoil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «topsoil» in the school dictionary: Topsoil is the top layer of soil, usually dark, rich and full of nutrients, where most plants grow their roots. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/) / topsoil

# topsoil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Topsoil, most plants, Worms, Heavy rain, We, Trees · **What happens:** be, grow, mix, rot, wash away, buy · **To what, where:** top layer, roots, topsoil, rotting leaves, 3 bags, hundreds

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Topsoil is the top layer of soil, usually dark, rich and full of nutrients, where most plants grow their roots.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:m1:1
# text = Topsoil is the top layer of soil, usually dark, rich and full of nutrients, where most plants grow their roots.
1	Topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	nutrients	nutrient	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	21	advmod	_	_
19	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	20	amod	_	_
20	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	_
22	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Topsoil | the top layer |  |  |  | of soil | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | most plants | plants's roots |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location root=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most plants grow their roots in the topsoil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x1:1
# text = Most plants grow their roots in the topsoil.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Most plants | plants's roots |  | the topsoil |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location root=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms mix rotting leaves into the topsoil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x2:1
# text = Worms mix rotting leaves into the topsoil.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mix	mix	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rotting	rot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	topsoil	topsoil	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 | **mix** | present | Worms | rotting leaves |  |  |  | into the topsoil | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient into topsoil=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **rot** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heavy rain can wash away the topsoil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x3:1
# text = Heavy rain can wash away the topsoil.
1	Heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	wash	wash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash away** | can | Heavy rain | the topsoil |  |  |  | away *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent topsoil=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We bought 3 bags of topsoil for the vegetable patch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x4:1
# text = We bought 3 bags of topsoil for the vegetable patch.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	patch	patch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | We | 3 bags of topsoil for the vegetable patch |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Topsoil is darker than the subsoil below it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x5:1
# text = Topsoil is darker than the subsoil below it.
1	Topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	darker	dark	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	subsoil	subsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	below	below	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Topsoil |  |  |  |  | than the subsoil below subsoil; dark *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trees help stop the topsoil from blowing away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x6:1
# text = Trees help stop the topsoil from blowing away.
1	Trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	blowing	blow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Trees |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | infinitive | Trees *not said here* | the topsoil |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality topsoil=Eventuality |
| 3 | **blow away** | gerund | Trees *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It can take hundreds of years to form a few centimetres of topsoil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topsoil:x7:1
# text = It can take hundreds of years to form a few centimetres of topsoil.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	form	form	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	centimetres	centimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	topsoil	topsoil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | can | It | hundreds of years |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hundred=Theme |
| 2 | **form** | to-infinitive |  | a few centimetres of topsoil |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location centimetre=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [topple](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topple/)
- next →: [toque](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toque/)
- ↑ back to [T in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/)