---
title: biology — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «biology» in the school dictionary: Biology is the study of living things, like plants, animals and people, and how they live and grow. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# biology

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Biology, people, 24 students, She, her, biology book · **What happens:** be, live, grow, take, score, test · **To what, where:** study, biology, 88, biology test, 300 pages, 5 more students · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«biology» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [biology in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/biology.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Biology is the study of living things, like plants, animals and people, and how they live and grow.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:m1:1
# text = Biology is the study of living things, like plants, animals and people, and how they live and grow.
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	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	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 living things  animals and people and plants | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **grow** | present | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
The biology of a living thing is how its body works.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:m2:1
# text = The biology of a living thing is how its body works.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the biology of a living thing |  |  |  |  | work *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
24 students take biology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x1:1
# text = 24 students take biology.
1	24	24	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	students	student	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | 24 students | biology |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biology=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She scored 88 on her biology test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x2:1
# text = She scored 88 on her biology test.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	88	88	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	test	test	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 | **score** | past | She | 88 |  | her biology test |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent 88=Theme on test=Source |
| 2 | **test** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The biology book has 300 pages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x3:1
# text = The biology book has 300 pages.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the biology book | 300 pages |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The biology class has 5 more students than chemistry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x4:1
# text = The biology class has 5 more students than chemistry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	students	student	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chemistry	chemistry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the biology class | 5 more students |  |  |  | than chemistry | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent student=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In biology we learned about cells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x5:1
# text = In biology we learned about cells.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we |  |  | biology |  | about cells | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about cell=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wants to study marine biology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x6:1
# text = She wants to study marine biology.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	marine	marine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **study** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | marine biology |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biology=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Biology tells us how plants make food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x7:1
# text = Biology tells us how plants make food.
1	Biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Biology |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present | plants | food |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset food=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The biology lab has microscopes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x8:1
# text = The biology lab has microscopes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	lab	lab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	microscopes	microscope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the biology lab | microscopes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent microscope=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He likes biology more than physics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x9:1
# text = He likes biology more than physics.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	physics	physic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | He | biology |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We looked at frog eggs in biology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biology:x10:1
# text = We looked at frog eggs in biology.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	biology	biology	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 | **look** | past | We |  |  |  |  | in biology; at frog eggs | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at egg=Theme |

<!-- 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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