---
title: amphibian — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «amphibian» in the school dictionary: An animal with a backbone that is cold-blooded, has moist skin, usually lays eggs in water, and lives part of its life in water and part on land, like frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# amphibian

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** backbone, animal, plane, frog, Amphibians, Tadpoles · **What happens:** be, have, lay, live, travel, start · **To what, where:** moist skin, eggs, water, part, land, amphibian

<!-- .vabout -->
«amphibian» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings 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: [amphibian in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/amphibian.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An animal with a backbone that is cold-blooded, has moist skin, usually lays eggs in water, and lives part of its life in water and part on land, like frogs, toads, newts and salamanders.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:m1:1
# text = An animal with a backbone that is cold-blooded, has moist skin, usually lays eggs in water, and lives part of its life in water and part on land, like frogs, toads, newts and salamanders.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	backbone	backbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	blooded	blooded	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	moist	moist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
18	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
24	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	_
28	in	in	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
29	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
31	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	_
32	on	on	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
33	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	36	punct	_	_
35	like	like	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
36	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	38	punct	_	_
38	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	40	punct	_	_
40	newts	newt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	36	conj	_	_
41	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	42	cc	_	_
42	salamanders	salamander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a backbone |  |  |  |  | blooded *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a animal with a backbone | moist skin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Patient |
| 3 | **lay** | present | a animal with a backbone *not said here* | eggs |  | water |  | usually *property* | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent egg=Theme in water=Destination |
| 4 | **live** | present | a animal with a backbone *not said here* | part of animal's life |  | water and part on land |  | like frogs and toads and newts and salamanders | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme part=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A vehicle or plane that can travel on both land and water (amphibious vehicle).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:m2:1
# text = A vehicle or plane that can travel on both land and water (amphibious vehicle).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vehicle	vehicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	travel	travel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	amphibious	amphibious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	vehicle	vehicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | can | plane |  |  | both land and water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on land=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A frog is an amphibian.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x1:1
# text = A frog is an amphibian.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	amphibian	amphibian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a frog | a amphibian |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Amphibians start life in water and can later live on land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x2:1
# text = Amphibians start life in water and can later live on land.
1	Amphibians	amphibian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	later	later	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Amphibians | life |  | water |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent life=Eventuality |
| 2 | **live** | can | Amphibians *not said here* |  |  | land |  | later *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on land=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tadpoles breathe with gills, but adult frogs breathe with lungs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x3:1
# text = Tadpoles breathe with gills, but adult frogs breathe with lungs.
1	Tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	adult	adult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | Tadpoles |  |  |  |  | with gills | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **breathe** | present | adult frogs |  |  |  |  | with lungs | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Newts and salamanders are amphibians too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x4:1
# text = Newts and salamanders are amphibians too.
1	Newts	newt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	salamanders	salamander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	amphibians	amphibian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Newts and salamanders | amphibians |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Amphibians have smooth, moist skin, not scales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x5:1
# text = Amphibians have smooth, moist skin, not scales.
1	Amphibians	amphibian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	moist	moist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Amphibians | smooth moist skin and scales |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found frogspawn in the pond — amphibian eggs!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x6:1
# text = We found frogspawn in the pond — amphibian eggs!
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	frogspawn	frogspawn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	amphibian	amphibian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | frogspawn |  | the pond |  | amphibian eggs *obl* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent frogspawn=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some frog skins are poisonous, so don't lick or touch your mouth after holding one.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amphibian:x7:1
# text = Some frog skins are poisonous, so don't lick or touch your mouth after holding one.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	skins	skin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	lick	lick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some frog skins |  |  |  |  | poisonous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **lick** | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **touch** | infinitive |  | your mouth |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme mouth=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **hold** | gerund |  | one |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=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 -->

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