---
title: van — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «van» in the school dictionary: A van is a vehicle bigger than a car and smaller than a truck, used for carrying people or goods. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# van

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** van, 3 vans, delivery van, We, cream van, Dad · **What happens:** be, use, carry, mean, hold, need · **To what, where:** vehicle, people, group, boxes, front, 8 people

<!-- .vabout -->
«van» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [van in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/van.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A van is a vehicle bigger than a car and smaller than a truck, used for carrying people or goods.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:m1:1
# text = A van is a vehicle bigger than a car and smaller than a truck, used for carrying people or goods.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	van	van	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	vehicle	vehicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	truck	truck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
17	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a van | a vehicle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a vehicle *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **carry** | gerund |  | people or goods |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=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 -->
A van with seats can carry a group, like a school team; a van with no back seats carries boxes, tools or furniture.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:m2:1
# text = A van with seats can carry a group, like a school team; a van with no back seats carries boxes, tools or furniture.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	20	det	_	_
19	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
21	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
22	boxes	box	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	furniture	furniture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | can | a van with seats | a group |  |  |  | like a school team | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Theme |
| 2 | **carry** | present | a van with no back seats | boxes and tools or furniture |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent box=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In the van» or «in the vanguard» can also mean at the front of a march or a change (rare).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:m3:1
# text = «In the van» or «in the vanguard» can also mean at the front of a march or a change (rare).
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	vanguard	vanguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	also	also	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	march	march	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | the van or the vanguard |  |  | the front of a march or a change |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each van holds 8 people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x1:1
# text = Each van holds 8 people.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	people	people	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 | **hold** | present | each van | 8 people |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
3 vans carry 45 boxes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x2:1
# text = 3 vans carry 45 boxes.
1	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	vans	van	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	45	45	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	boxes	box	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 | **carry** | present | 3 vans | 45 boxes |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent box=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many vans are needed for 30 children?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x3:1
# text = How many vans are needed for 30 children?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	vans	van	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive |  | many vans |  |  |  | for 30 children | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The van drove 60 miles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x4:1
# text = The van drove 60 miles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	miles	mile	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 | **drive** | past | the van | 60 miles |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme mile=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The delivery van brought our new fridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x5:1
# text = The delivery van brought our new fridge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	delivery	delivery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fridge	fridge	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 | **bring** | past | the delivery van | our new fridge |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent fridge=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard the ice-cream van playing its tune.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x6:1
# text = We heard the ice-cream van playing its tune.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | the cream van |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer van=Stimulus |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | the cream van *not said here* | van's tune |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad hired a moving van to take our beds to the new house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x7:1
# text = Dad hired a moving van to take our beds to the new house.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hired	hire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	beds	bed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire** | past | Dad | a moving van |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent van=Theme |
| 2 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | our beds |  | the new house |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bed=Theme to house=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The football team travelled to the match in two vans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x8:1
# text = The football team travelled to the match in two vans.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	travelled	travel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	vans	van	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | past | the football team |  |  | two vans |  | to the match | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to match=Destination |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They placed straw round the coffin, and the van drove away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:van:x9:1
# text = They placed straw round the coffin, and the van drove away.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	placed	place	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	round	round	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	coffin	coffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **place** | past | They | straw |  |  |  | round the coffin | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent straw=Theme |
| 2 | **drive away** | past | the van |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->

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