---
title: tornado — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tornado» in the school dictionary: A tornado is a very strong, spinning column of wind that reaches from a storm cloud down to the ground, shaped like a funnel. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tornado

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tornado, strong spinning column, person, siren, you, Tornadoes · **What happens:** spin, be, reach, shape, move, make · **To what, where:** strong spinning column, storm cloud, ground, mess, three barns, basement

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tornado is a very strong, spinning column of wind that reaches from a storm cloud down to the ground, shaped like a funnel.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:m1:1
# text = A tornado is a very strong, spinning column of wind that reaches from a storm cloud down to the ground, shaped like a funnel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	column	column	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	down	down	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
24	like	like	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	funnel	funnel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a tornado | a strong spinning column |  |  |  | of wind | tree rules |
| 3 | **reach** | present | a strong spinning column |  |  | a storm cloud |  | to the ground; down *property* | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **shape** | participle |  | the ground *not said here* |  |  |  | like a funnel | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Figuratively, a person who moves fast and makes a mess is like a tornado.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:m2:1
# text = Figuratively, a person who moves fast and makes a mess is like a tornado.
1	Figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | present | a person *not said here* | a mess |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mess=Product |
| 3 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | like a tornado; figuratively *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tornado looks like a spinning funnel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x1:1
# text = A tornado looks like a spinning funnel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	funnel	funnel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a tornado |  |  |  |  | like a spinning funnel | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tornado destroyed three barns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x2:1
# text = The tornado destroyed three barns.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	barns	barn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **destroy** | past | the tornado | three barns |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent barn=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the siren sounds, go to the basement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x3:1
# text = When the siren sounds, go to the basement.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	siren	siren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	basement	basement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | the siren |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the basement |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to basement=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tornadoes happen most often in the USA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x4:1
# text = Tornadoes happen most often in the USA.
1	Tornadoes	tornado	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	4	advmod	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	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 | **happen** | present | Tornadoes |  |  | the USA |  | often *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in usa=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In The Wizard of Oz, a tornado carries Dorothy's house away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x5:1
# text = In The Wizard of Oz, a tornado carries Dorothy's house away.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Wizard	Wizard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Oz	Oz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Dorothy	Dorothy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | a tornado | Dorothy's house |  |  |  | in the Wizard of Oz; away *property* | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent house=Value in wizard=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stay away from windows during a tornado.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x6:1
# text = Stay away from windows during a tornado.
1	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | windows | during a tornado | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother ran through the room like a tornado.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x7:1
# text = My little brother ran through the room like a tornado.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | My little brother |  |  | the room like a tornado |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through room=Trajectory |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists chase tornadoes to study them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tornado:x8:1
# text = Scientists chase tornadoes to study them.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	chase	chase	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tornadoes	tornado	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chase** | present | Scientists | tornadoes |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tornado=Theme |
| 2 | **study** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | tornadoes *= tornado* |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Topic |

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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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