---
title: biological — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «biological» in the school dictionary: To do with living things and how they grow and work, or with biology, the study of them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/biological/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / biological

# biological

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** things, natural enzymes, Growing, Sam, Biology, Mum · **What happens:** do, grow, work, study, relate, contain · **To what, where:** them, natural enzymes, dirt, biological processes, biological mother, study · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with living things and how they grow and work, or with biology, the study of them.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:m1:1
# text = To do with living things and how they grow and work, or with biology, the study of them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with living things | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **grow** | present | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | with biology | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **work** | present | things *= thing* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **study** |  |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | nom study «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Related by birth, not by adoption or marriage (biological parents).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:m2:1
# text = Related by birth, not by adoption or marriage (biological parents).
1	Related	relate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	adoption	adoption	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	marriage	marriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **relate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by birth and adoption or marriage | vn relate-86.2-2 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Containing natural enzymes that break down dirt, as in biological washing powder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:m3:1
# text = Containing natural enzymes that break down dirt, as in biological washing powder.
1	Containing	contain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	enzymes	enzyme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	powder	powder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | gerund |  | natural enzymes |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot enzyme=Theme |
| 2 | **break down** | present | natural enzymes | dirt |  |  |  | as biological washing powder | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dirt=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Growing and breathing are biological processes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x1:1
# text = Growing and breathing are biological processes.
1	Growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	breathing	breathe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	processes	process	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **breathe** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Growing | biological processes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam lives with his adoptive family but knows his biological mother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x2:1
# text = Sam lives with his adoptive family but knows his biological mother.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	adoptive	adoptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Sam |  |  |  |  | with Sam's adoptive family | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with family=Location |
| 2 | **know** | present | Sam *not said here* | Sam's biological mother |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer mother=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Biology is the study of biological life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x3:1
# text = Biology is the study of biological life.
1	Biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Biology | the study |  |  |  | of biological life | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum uses non-biological washing powder for my skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x4:1
# text = Mum uses non-biological washing powder for my skin.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	non-biological	non-biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	powder	powder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	skin	skin	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 | **use** | present | Mum | non-biological washing powder |  |  |  | for my skin | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent powder=Theme for skin=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants and animals are biological; rocks are not.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x5:1
# text = Plants and animals are biological; rocks are not.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Plants and animals |  |  |  |  | biological *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study the biological effects of pollution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x6:1
# text = Scientists study the biological effects of pollution.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	effects	effect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | the biological effects of pollution |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Topic |
| 2 | **effect** |  |  | pollution |  |  |  |  | nom effect «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your biological clock tells you when to sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biological:x7:1
# text = Your biological clock tells you when to sleep.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	biological	biological	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Your biological clock |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **sleep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Your biological clock *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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