---
title: bairn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bairn» in the school dictionary: A bairn is a child or a baby. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bairn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bairn, bairns, wee bairn, She, you, me · **What happens:** be, mean, sleep, keep down, get, come · **To what, where:** child, children, voice, three bairns, bairn, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Scotland, northern England — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bairn is a child or a baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:m1:1
# text = A bairn is a child or a baby.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bairn	bairn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bairn | a child or a baby |  |  |  |  | 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: Scotland — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Your bairns» means your children, your own family's kids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:m2:1
# text = «Your bairns» means your children, your own family's kids.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	bairns	bairn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Your bairns | your children and your own family's kids |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wee bairn is sleeping, so keep your voice down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x1:1
# text = The wee bairn is sleeping, so keep your voice down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wee	wee	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bairn	bairn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	sleeping	sleep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	down	down	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present · progressive | the wee bairn |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep down** | infinitive | the wee bairn *not said here* | your voice |  |  |  | down *property* | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's got three bairns and a dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x2:1
# text = She's got three bairns and a dog.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	bairns	bairn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present · passive | She | three bairns and a dog |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bairn=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Come here, bairn, and let me tie your lace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x3:1
# text = Come here, bairn, and let me tie your lace.
1	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	bairn	bairn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	lace	lace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | imperative | you *not said here* | bairn |  | here |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive |  | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tie** | infinitive | me *not said here* | your lace |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lace=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gran says all her bairns are grown up now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x4:1
# text = Gran says all her bairns are grown up now.
1	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bairns	bairn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **grow up** | present · passive |  | Gran's bairns |  |  | now | all *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bairns are playing out in the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x5:1
# text = The bairns are playing out in the garden.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bairns	bairn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	playing	play	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play out** | present · progressive | the bairns |  |  | the garden |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Haud yer wheesht, the bairn's sleeping,» said Granny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x6:1
# text = «Haud yer wheesht, the bairn's sleeping,» said Granny.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Haud	Haud	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	yer	yer	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	wheesht	wheesht	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bairn	bairn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	sleeping	sleeping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	Granny	Granny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Haud |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sleep** *in a quote* |  | the bairn |  |  |  |  |  | nom sleeping «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And he began to sing, dancing round Tom, like a bairn with his yellow hair, but looking older than ever with his grinning wrinkled bit of a face:

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bairn:x7:1
# text = And he began to sing, dancing round Tom, like a bairn with his yellow hair, but looking older than ever with his grinning wrinkled bit of a face:
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sing	sing	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	dancing	dance	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	round	round	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bairn	bairn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
21	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	20	xcomp	_	_
22	than	than	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	21	obl	_	_
24	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
25	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	grinning	grinning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
27	wrinkled	wrinkle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	advcl	_	_
28	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl:unmarked	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **dance** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | round Tom; like a bairn with Tom's yellow hair | vn waltz-51.5 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **look** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **wrinkle** | past | Tom's grinning | bit of a face |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 6 | **grin** |  | Tom |  |  |  |  |  | nom grinning «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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