---
title: bats — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bats» in the school dictionary: Bats is the plural of bat: more than one flying animal, or more than one stick for hitting a ball. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bats

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Bats, one stick, she, turn, Hundreds, Fruit bats · **What happens:** be, fly, hit, bat, mean, take · **To what, where:** plural, ball, turn, cave, mangoes, upside · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bats» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [bats in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bats.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats is the plural of bat: more than one flying animal, or more than one stick for hitting a ball.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:m1:1
# text = Bats is the plural of bat: more than one flying animal, or more than one stick for hitting a ball.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plural	plural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bat	bat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	10	advmod	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
11	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	amod	_	_
12	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	17	advmod	_	_
16	than	than	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
19	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
20	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	acl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bats | the plural |  |  |  | of bat | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **hit** | gerund | one stick *not said here* | a ball |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme ball=Co-Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
As a verb, «she bats» means she takes a turn hitting the ball.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:m2:1
# text = As a verb, «she bats» means she takes a turn hitting the ball.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bat** *in a quote* |  | she |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | bats |  |  |  |  | as a verb | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **take** | present | she | a turn |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent turn=Theme |
| 4 | **hit** | gerund | a turn *not said here* | the ball |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme ball=Co-Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In informal British talk, «bats» means a bit crazy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:m3:1
# text = In informal British talk, «bats» means a bit crazy.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
12	crazy	crazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | bats |  |  |  |  | in informal British talk; crazy *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in talk=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hundreds of bats flew out of the cave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x1:1
# text = Hundreds of bats flew out of the cave.
1	Hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cave	cave	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 | **fly out** | past | Hundreds of bats | the cave |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location cave=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fruit bats eat mangoes and figs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x2:1
# text = Fruit bats eat mangoes and figs.
1	Fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mangoes	mango	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	figs	fig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Fruit bats | mangoes and figs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mango=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats sleep upside down in the day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x3:1
# text = Bats sleep upside down in the day.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	upside	upside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep down** | present | Bats | upside |  |  | day | down *property* | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent upside=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the cricket bats back in the shed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x4:1
# text = Put the cricket bats back in the shed.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	cricket	cricket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cricket bats |  | the shed |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bat=Theme in shed=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She bats left-handed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x5:1
# text = She bats left-handed.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	left	left	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	handed	hand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bat** |  | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hand** | participle · passive |  | bats |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats help by eating mosquitoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x6:1
# text = Bats help by eating mosquitoes.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	mosquitoes	mosquito	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Bats |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | Bats *not said here* | mosquitoes |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mosquito=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some bats live in the roofs of old barns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x7:1
# text = Some bats live in the roofs of old barns.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roofs	roof	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	barns	barn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | some bats |  |  | the roofs of old barns |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in roof=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother goes bats when he's tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x8:1
# text = My little brother goes bats when he's tired.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | My little brother | bats |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bat=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | brother |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shining glow-worms covered the ceiling, and sky-blue bats flapped their transparent wings.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bats:x9:1
# text = Shining glow-worms covered the ceiling, and sky-blue bats flapped their transparent wings.
1	Shining	shine	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
2	glow	glow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	covered	cover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ceiling	ceiling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	flapped	flap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	transparent	transparent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **cover** | past | Shining glow worms | the ceiling |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent ceiling=Destination |
| 3 | **flap** | past | sky blue bats | bats's transparent wings |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
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