---
title: caiman — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «caiman» in the school dictionary: A caiman is a reptile of the alligator family that lives in the rivers, lakes and swamps of Central and South America. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# caiman

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** caiman, alligator family, Caimans, black caiman, eyes, jaguar · **What happens:** be, live, have, grow, float, show · **To what, where:** reptile, rivers, long jaws, caiman, river, South America

<!-- .vabout -->
«caiman» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [caiman in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/caiman.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caiman is a reptile of the alligator family that lives in the rivers, lakes and swamps of Central and South America.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:m1:1
# text = A caiman is a reptile of the alligator family that lives in the rivers, lakes and swamps of Central and South America.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reptile	reptile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	lakes	lake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	swamps	swamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Central	Central	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a caiman | a reptile |  |  |  | of the alligator family | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | the alligator family |  |  | the rivers and lakes and swamps of Central and South America |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in river=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Caimans have long jaws, tough scaly skin and are usually smaller than alligators and crocodiles, although the black caiman can grow very large.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:m2:1
# text = Caimans have long jaws, tough scaly skin and are usually smaller than alligators and crocodiles, although the black caiman can grow very large.
1	Caimans	caiman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	alligators	alligator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	crocodiles	crocodile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
18	although	although	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
22	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
24	very	very	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Caimans | long jaws and tough scaly skin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jaw=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Caimans *not said here* |  |  |  |  | than alligators and crocodiles; small, usually *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **grow** | can | the black caiman |  |  |  |  | large *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caiman floated in the river with only its eyes showing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x1:1
# text = A caiman floated in the river with only its eyes showing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	floated	float	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
11	showing	show	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **float** | participle |  | a caiman *not said here* |  | the river |  | with river's eyes | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in river=Trajectory |
| 2 | **show** | gerund | river's eyes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Caimans live in South America.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x2:1
# text = Caimans live in South America.
1	Caimans	caiman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Caimans |  |  | South America |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in america=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jaguar caught a caiman on the riverbank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x3:1
# text = The jaguar caught a caiman on the riverbank.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jaguar	jaguar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	riverbank	riverbank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the jaguar | a caiman |  | the riverbank |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent caiman=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spectacled caiman has a ridge between its eyes like glasses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x4:1
# text = The spectacled caiman has a ridge between its eyes like glasses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spectacled	spectacled	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ridge	ridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the spectacled caiman | a ridge |  |  |  | between caiman's eyes like glasses | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ridge=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caiman is a relative of the alligator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x5:1
# text = A caiman is a relative of the alligator.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	relative	relative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	alligator	alligator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Caimans lay their eggs in nests of leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x6:1
# text = Caimans lay their eggs in nests of leaves.
1	Caimans	caiman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | Caimans | Caimans's eggs |  | nests of leaves |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent egg=Theme in nest=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The black caiman is the biggest caiman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:caiman:x7:1
# text = The black caiman is the biggest caiman.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	caiman	caiman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	caiman	caiman	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 | **is a** | present | the black caiman | the biggest caiman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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