---
title: aphid — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «aphid» in the school dictionary: An aphid is a very small insect, often green or black, that sucks the sap (juice) from plants. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# aphid

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** aphid, that, Aphids, Ladybirds, you, Ants · **What happens:** be, suck, call, eat, look, cover · **To what, where:** small insect, sap, plants, Aphids, roses, lots · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«aphid» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [aphid in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/aphid.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An aphid is a very small insect, often green or black, that sucks the sap (juice) from plants.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:m1:1
# text = An aphid is a very small insect, often green or black, that sucks the sap (juice) from plants.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	aphid	aphid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	sucks	suck	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	sap	SAP	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	_
21	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a aphid | a small insect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **suck** | present | that | the sap |  | plants |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sap=Theme from plant=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
Aphids are also called greenfly or blackfly in the UK.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:m2:1
# text = Aphids are also called greenfly or blackfly in the UK.
1	Aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	greenfly	greenfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	blackfly	blackfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Aphids |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aphids were sucking the sap from the roses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x1:1
# text = Aphids were sucking the sap from the roses.
1	Aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	sucking	suck	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sap	SAP	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	roses	rose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suck** | past · progressive | Aphids | the sap |  | the roses |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sap=Theme from rose=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ladybirds eat lots of aphids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x2:1
# text = Ladybirds eat lots of aphids.
1	Ladybirds	ladybird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Ladybirds | lots of aphids |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look under the leaf: it's covered in tiny green aphids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x3:1
# text = Look under the leaf: it's covered in tiny green aphids.
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	under	under	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	parataxis	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | under the leaf | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent under leaf=Theme |
| 2 | **cover** | present · passive |  | leaf |  |  |  | in tiny green aphids | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in aphid=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ants protect aphids to get their sweet honeydew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x4:1
# text = Ants protect aphids to get their sweet honeydew.
1	Ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	honeydew	honeydew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | Ants | aphids |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent aphid=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | Ants *not said here* | Ants's sweet honeydew |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer honeydew=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too many aphids can make a plant wilt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x5:1
# text = Too many aphids can make a plant wilt.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	aphids	aphid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	wilt	wilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | many aphids | a plant wilt |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wilt=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The food chain: rose → aphid → ladybird → bird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:aphid:x6:1
# text = The food chain: rose → aphid → ladybird → bird.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	rose	rose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	→	→	SYM	SYM	_	7	punct	_	_
7	aphid	aphid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
8	→	→	SYM	SYM	_	9	punct	_	_
9	ladybird	ladybird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	→	→	SYM	SYM	_	11	punct	_	_
11	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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