---
title: ape — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ape» in the school dictionary: An ape is a large primate with no tail, such as a gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan or gibbon. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ape

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ape, they, Dad, Gorillas, most monkeys, Orangutans · **What happens:** be, ape, mean, copy, act, talk · **To what, where:** large primate, someone, way, silly way, ape, mess · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ape» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [ape in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ape.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ape is a large primate with no tail, such as a gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan or gibbon.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:m1:1
# text = An ape is a large primate with no tail, such as a gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan or gibbon.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ape	ape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	primate	primate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	gorilla	gorilla	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	chimpanzee	chimpanzee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	bonobo	bonobo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	orangutan	orangutan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	gibbon	gibbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ape | a large primate and a gorilla and chimpanzee and bonobo and orangutan or gibbon |  |  |  | with no tail | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, a bit formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ape someone means to copy the way they act or talk, often in a silly way.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:m2:1
# text = To ape someone means to copy the way they act or talk, often in a silly way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ape	ape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	act	act	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ape** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **copy** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the way |  | a silly way |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent way=Theme in way=Destination |
| 4 | **act** | present | they | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent way=Eventuality |
| 5 | **talk** | present | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Go ape» means to get very excited or angry: «Dad went ape when he saw the mess».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:m3:1
# text = «Go ape» means to get very excited or angry: «Dad went ape when he saw the mess».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
3	ape	ape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	excited	excited	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
16	ape	ape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
17	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | ape |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location ape=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | excited *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **go** *in a quote* | past | Dad | ape |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location ape=Theme |
| 5 | **see** *in a quote* | past | Dad | the mess |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mess=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gorillas are the largest apes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x1:1
# text = Gorillas are the largest apes.
1	Gorillas	gorilla	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	apes	ape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Gorillas | the largest apes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ape has no tail, but most monkeys do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x2:1
# text = An ape has no tail, but most monkeys do.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ape	ape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	monkeys	monkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a ape | no tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | present | most monkeys |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Orangutans are apes that live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x3:1
# text = Orangutans are apes that live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
1	Orangutans	orangutan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	apes	ape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rainforests	rainforest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Borneo	Borneo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	Sumatra	Sumatra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Orangutans | apes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | apes |  |  | the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in rainforest=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The younger boy aped everything his big brother did.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x4:1
# text = The younger boy aped everything his big brother did.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	aped	ape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obj	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ape** | past | the younger boy | everything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | past | boy's big brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop aping the teacher's voice!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x5:1
# text = Stop aping the teacher's voice!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	aping	ape	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ape** | gerund | you *not said here* | the teacher's voice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd went ape when we scored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x6:1
# text = The crowd went ape when we scored.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ape	ape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the crowd | ape |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location ape=Theme |
| 2 | **score** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chimpanzees are apes that use sticks as tools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x7:1
# text = Chimpanzees are apes that use sticks as tools.
1	Chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	apes	ape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Chimpanzees | apes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | apes | sticks |  |  |  | as tools | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent stick=Duration as tool=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not try to ape your betters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ape:x8:1
# text = Do not try to ape your betters.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ape	ape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	betters	better	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **try** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ape** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your betters |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [apatosaurus](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apatosaurus/)
- next →: [aperture](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aperture/)
- ↑ back to [A in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/)