---
title: auk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «auk» in the school dictionary: An auk is a black-and-white seabird of the cold northern seas, which dives and «flies» underwater to catch fish; puffins, guillemots and razorbills are kinds of auk. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# auk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** auk, black seabird, puffins, great auk, Auks, People · **What happens:** be, dive, catch, hunt, become, nest · **To what, where:** black seabird, fish, kinds, big flightless auk, kind, steep cliffs

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An auk is a black-and-white seabird of the cold northern seas, which dives and «flies» underwater to catch fish; puffins, guillemots and razorbills are kinds of auk.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:m1:1
# text = An auk is a black-and-white seabird of the cold northern seas, which dives and «flies» underwater to catch fish; puffins, guillemots and razorbills are kinds of auk.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
10	seabird	seabird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	northern	northern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	dives	dive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
23	underwater	underwater	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
26	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
28	puffins	puffin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	34	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	guillemots	guillemot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	conj	_	_
31	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
32	razorbills	razorbill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	conj	_	_
33	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	34	cop	_	_
34	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	parataxis	_	_
35	of	of	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
36	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a auk | a black seabird |  |  |  | of the cold northern seas | tree rules |
| 2 | **dive** | present | a black seabird |  |  |  |  | underwater *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a black seabird *not said here* | fish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | present | puffins and guillemots and razorbills | kinds |  |  |  | of auk | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The great auk was a big flightless auk, hunted until it became extinct about two hundred years ago.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:m2:1
# text = The great auk was a big flightless auk, hunted until it became extinct about two hundred years ago.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	hunted	hunt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
11	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
14	extinct	extinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
15	about	about	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	compound	_	_
17	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl:unmarked	_	_
19	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the great auk | a big flightless auk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hunt** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **become** | past | auk |  |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puffins are a kind of auk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x1:1
# text = Puffins are a kind of auk.
1	Puffins	puffin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Auks nest on steep cliffs by the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x2:1
# text = Auks nest on steep cliffs by the sea.
1	Auks	auk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nest	nest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nest** | present | Auks |  |  | steep cliffs |  | by the sea | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The great auk could not fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x3:1
# text = The great auk could not fly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fly** | could | the great auk |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People hunted the great auk until none were left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x4:1
# text = People hunted the great auk until none were left.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunted	hunt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	auk	auk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | past | People | the great auk |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent auk=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | past · passive |  | none |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Auks use their wings to swim underwater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x5:1
# text = Auks use their wings to swim underwater.
1	Auks	auk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	underwater	underwater	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Auks | Auks's wings |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **swim** | to-infinitive | Auks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | underwater *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched auks diving off the rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x6:1
# text = We watched auks diving off the rocks.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	auks	auk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	diving	dive	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | auks |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent auk=Theme |
| 2 | **dive** | gerund | auks *not said here* |  |  | the rocks |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme off rock=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Auks live in the north, penguins in the south.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:auk:x7:1
# text = Auks live in the north, penguins in the south.
1	Auks	auk	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	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	north	north	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	south	south	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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