---
title: alligator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alligator» in the school dictionary: A large reptile with a long body, short legs, a long wide snout and strong jaws with many teeth, which lives in rivers, lakes and swamps in the south-east USA and in China. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alligator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** long wide snout, alligator, Alligators, you, Baby alligators, Atlanta friend · **What happens:** live, lie, not feed, have, hatch, see · **To what, where:** rivers, swamp, Florida, alligator, wide rounded snout, you

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large reptile with a long body, short legs, a long wide snout and strong jaws with many teeth, which lives in rivers, lakes and swamps in the south-east USA and in China.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:m1:1
# text = A large reptile with a long body, short legs, a long wide snout and strong jaws with many teeth, which lives in rivers, lakes and swamps in the south-east USA and in China.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reptile	reptile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
28	lakes	lake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	conj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	swamps	swamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	conj	_	_
31	in	in	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
33	south	south	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	east	east	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
36	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	35	appos	_	_
37	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	39	cc	_	_
38	in	in	ADP	IN	_	39	case	_	_
39	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a long wide snout and strong jaws with many teeth |  |  | rivers and lakes and swamps |  | in the south east | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in river=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
The alligator lay still in the swamp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x1:1
# text = The alligator lay still in the swamp.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	swamp	swamp	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 | **lie** | past | the alligator |  |  | the swamp | still |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in swamp=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alligators live in Florida and Louisiana.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x2:1
# text = Alligators live in Florida and Louisiana.
1	Alligators	alligator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Florida	Florida	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	Louisiana	Louisiana	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Alligators |  |  | Florida and Louisiana |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in florida=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never feed an alligator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x3:1
# text = Never feed an alligator.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **feed** | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a alligator |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alligator=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alligator has a wide, rounded snout.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x4:1
# text = An alligator has a wide, rounded snout.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	rounded	rounded	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a alligator | a wide rounded snout |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snout=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baby alligators hatch from eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x5:1
# text = Baby alligators hatch from eggs.
1	Baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	alligators	alligator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hatch	hatch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hatch** | present | Baby alligators |  |  |  |  | from eggs | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP V NP.product PP.patient»: agent=Agent from egg=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"See you later, alligator!" "In a while, crocodile!"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "See you later, alligator!" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x6:1
# text = "See you later, alligator!" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	See	see	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | you |  |  |  | alligator *obl*; late *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* In a while, crocodile!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x6:2
# text = In a while, crocodile!"
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	crocodile	crocodile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stay far from the water's edge where alligators might hide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x7:1
# text = Stay far from the water's edge where alligators might hide.
1	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
9	alligators	alligator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | far *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hide** | might | alligators |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
\*1 An Atlanta friend heard this story in Florida, but an alligator was substituted for the fox, and a little boy for the rabbit.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alligator:x8:1
# text = *1 An Atlanta friend heard this story in Florida, but an alligator was substituted for the fox, and a little boy for the rabbit.
1	*	*	PUNCT	NFP	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	_
3	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Atlanta	Atlanta	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Florida	Florida	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	substituted	substitute	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
25	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | a Atlanta friend | 1 |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer story=Stimulus |
| 2 | **substitute** | past · passive |  | a alligator |  |  |  | for the fox | vn substitute-13.6.2 «NP V NP.location»: subject=Location |

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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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