Grammar key

Every sense shows its grammar spelled out, with the short code in brackets: countable [C], verb + object [V + obj]. This page lists every code the dictionary uses.

Countability (nouns)

Whether a noun has a plural and can follow a or an.

Label	Code	Meaning
countable	C	has a plural and can follow a or an: a book, two books
uncountable	U	has no plural and does not follow a or an: some water, a lot of information
countable or uncountable	C/U	used both ways, often with a difference of meaning: a coffee, some coffee
singular only	sing	used only in the singular, usually with the or a possessive: the future, the outdoors, my whereabouts
plural only	pl	used only in the plural and takes a plural verb: scissors, clothes

Transitivity (verbs)

Whether a verb takes a direct object in the sense shown.

Label	Code	Meaning
transitive	T	takes a direct object: She closed the door.
intransitive	I	takes no direct object: The door closed.
transitive or intransitive	T/I	used with or without a direct object in this sense
linking	L	joins the subject to a word that describes it: She seems tired.

Verb patterns

What follows the verb. An example marked with a pattern shows that pattern.

Pattern	Code	Meaning	Example
verb + object	V + obj	the verb is followed by a direct object	She read the letter.
verb + two objects	V + obj + obj	the verb is followed by an indirect object and a direct object	He gave her the keys.
verb + to-infinitive	V + to-inf	the verb is followed by to and the base form of another verb	They decided to leave.
verb + object + to-infinitive	V + obj + to-inf	an object comes between the verb and to plus a base form	She asked him to wait.
verb + bare infinitive	V + inf	the verb is followed by a base form without to	You had better go.
verb + object + bare infinitive	V + obj + inf	an object comes between the verb and a base form without to	Let me help.
verb + -ing form	V + -ing	the verb is followed by the -ing form of another verb	I enjoy swimming.
verb + object + -ing form	V + obj + -ing	an object comes between the verb and an -ing form	I saw them leaving.
verb + that-clause	V + that	the verb is followed by a clause that can begin with that	She said that she was tired.
verb + object + that-clause	V + obj + that	an object comes between the verb and a that-clause	He told me that it was late.
verb + wh-clause	V + wh	the verb is followed by a clause beginning with a question word or whether	I wonder what happened.
verb + object + wh-clause	V + obj + wh	an object comes between the verb and a clause beginning with a question word	Ask her where it is.
verb + wh-word + to-infinitive	V + wh + to-inf	the verb is followed by a question word and to plus a base form	I know how to swim.
verb + adjective	V + adj	the verb is followed by an adjective that describes the subject	The milk went sour.
verb + noun complement	V + noun	the verb is followed by a noun phrase that describes the subject	She became a doctor.
verb + object + adjective	V + obj + adj	the verb is followed by an object and an adjective that describes it	The news made him happy.
verb + object + noun complement	V + obj + noun	the verb is followed by an object and a noun phrase that describes it	They named the baby Ana.
verb + object + as + noun or adjective	V + obj + as	the verb is followed by an object, as, and a description of the object	We regard her as a friend.
verb + preposition + object	V + prep + obj	the verb needs a particular preposition before its object	It depends on the weather.
verb + object + preposition + object	V + obj + prep + obj	the verb takes an object and then a preposition with a second object	She thanked him for the gift.
verb + adverb or preposition	V + adv/prep	the verb is used with an adverb or preposition particle and no object	The plane took off.
verb + object + adverb	V + obj + adv	a separable phrasal verb with the object between the verb and the particle	Turn the light off.
verb + adverb + object	V + adv + obj	a phrasal verb with the object after the particle	Turn off the light.
verb + for + object + to-infinitive	V + for + obj + to-inf	the verb is followed by for, an object, and to plus a base form	We waited for the rain to stop.
verb + direct speech	V + speech	the verb introduces or follows the exact words someone says	"Wait," she said.
verb + object + past participle	V + obj + past participle	the verb is followed by an object and a past participle	I had my hair cut.
usually passive	usually passive	in this sense the verb is used mostly in the passive	The bridge was built in a year.
not used in the passive	no passive	in this sense the verb has no passive form	This bag holds a lot. (not *A lot is held by this bag.)
not used in continuous tenses	no continuous	in this sense the verb is not used in the -ing progressive forms	I know the answer. (not *I am knowing the answer.)

Other grammar codes

Restrictions on position, gradability, and number.

Label	Code	Meaning	Applies to
attributive only	attrib	used only before a noun: a mere child, not *the child is mere	adj
predicative only	pred	used only after a linking verb: the baby is asleep, not *an asleep baby	adj
after the noun	after noun	placed after the noun it describes: the president elect, the people present	adj
not gradable	not gradable	has no comparative or superlative and is not used with very: dead, unique, daily	adj, adv
comparative with more	more	the comparative and superlative are formed with more and most, not -er and -est	adj, adv
usually plural	usu pl	the noun is countable but normally used in the plural: circumstances, surroundings	n
usually singular	usu sing	the noun is countable but normally used in the singular, often with a or the: a knack, the gist	n
singular or plural verb	sing/pl verb	a singular noun for a group that can take a singular or a plural verb: the team is or the team are	n
often before another noun	before noun	the noun is often used like an adjective before another noun: a business meeting	n
sentence adverb	sentence adverb	the adverb comments on or connects a whole sentence: However, we stayed.	adv