---
title: boyhood — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boyhood» in the school dictionary: The time in a person's life when he is a boy, from birth until he becomes a young man. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boyhood

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** time, person, He, Dad, Becoming, We · **What happens:** be, become, spend, talk, visit, start · **To what, where:** boy, young man, boyhood, farm, pilot, boyhood dream · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«boyhood» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [boyhood in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/boyhood.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time in a person's life when he is a boy, from birth until he becomes a young man.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:m1:1
# text = The time in a person's life when he is a boy, from birth until he becomes a young man.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
16	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the time in a person's life | a boy and birth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **become** | present | person | a young man |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=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 -->
The state of being a boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:m2:1
# text = The state of being a boy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spent his boyhood on a farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x1:1
# text = He spent his boyhood on a farm.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	boyhood	boyhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	farm	farm	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 | **spend** | past | He | his boyhood |  |  |  | on a farm *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent boyhood=Asset on farm=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad still talks about his boyhood in Belfast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x2:1
# text = Dad still talks about his boyhood in Belfast.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	boyhood	boyhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Belfast	Belfast	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | present | Dad |  |  |  | still | about Dad's boyhood in Belfast | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about boyhood=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Becoming a pilot was his boyhood dream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x3:1
# text = Becoming a pilot was his boyhood dream.
1	Becoming	become	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pilot	pilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	xcomp	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	boyhood	boyhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | gerund |  | a pilot |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Becoming | his boyhood dream |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited Mark Twain's boyhood home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x4:1
# text = We visited Mark Twain's boyhood home.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Mark	Mark	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	_
4	Twain	Twain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
6	boyhood	boyhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	home	home	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | We | Mark's boyhood |  |  |  | home *property* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boyhood=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They had been friends since boyhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x5:1
# text = They had been friends since boyhood.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	since	since	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	boyhood	boyhood	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** | past · perfect | They | friends |  |  | since boyhood |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In his boyhood he had already started on a journey, for his desire was to see foreign lands and strange people.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyhood:x6:1
# text = In his boyhood he had already started on a journey, for his desire was to see foreign lands and strange people.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	boyhood	boyhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	already	already	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	journey	journey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	desire	desire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
18	foreign	foreign	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	lands	land	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past · perfect | he |  |  | his boyhood |  | on a journey | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **see** | past | his desire | foreign lands and strange people |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer land=Stimulus |
| 3 | **desire** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom desire «feeling transitive»: 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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