---
title: boyish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boyish» in the school dictionary: Like a boy, or looking or behaving like a boy: «a boyish grin». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boyish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** boy, man, Grandad, boyish face, teacher, Toad · **What happens:** look, behave, say, grow, have, make · **To what, where:** boyish face, boyish grin, teacher, hands, short boyish haircut · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Like a boy, or looking or behaving like a boy: «a boyish grin».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:m1:1
# text = Like a boy, or looking or behaving like a boy: «a boyish grin».
1	Like	like	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	behaving	behave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	grin	grin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund | a boy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **behave** | gerund | a boy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a boy | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like boy=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
Young-looking and full of fun, said about a grown man: «He has a boyish face.».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:m2:1
# text = Young-looking and full of fun, said about a grown man: «He has a boyish face.».
1	Young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	ccomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  | about a grown man | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | present | man | a boyish face |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad still has a boyish grin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x1:1
# text = Grandad still has a boyish grin.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	grin	grin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | a boyish grin |  |  | still |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grin=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher's boyish face made him look very young.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x2:1
# text = The teacher's boyish face made him look very young.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the teacher's boyish face | teacher |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  | young *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad clapped his hands with boyish excitement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x3:1
# text = Toad clapped his hands with boyish excitement.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clapped	clap	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	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	excitement	excitement	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 | **clap** | past | Toad | Toad's hands |  |  |  | with boyish excitement | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hand=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a short, boyish haircut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x4:1
# text = She had a short, boyish haircut.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a short boyish haircut |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent haircut=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His boyish enthusiasm for trains never faded.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x5:1
# text = His boyish enthusiasm for trains never faded.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	enthusiasm	enthusiasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	faded	fade	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fade** | past | His boyish enthusiasm for trains |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach laughed with boyish delight when they won.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boyish:x6:1
# text = The coach laughed with boyish delight when they won.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	boyish	boyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	delight	delight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | the coach |  |  |  |  | with boyish delight | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **win** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «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 -->

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