---
title: cambrian — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cambrian» in the school dictionary: The Cambrian was a period of Earth's history about 540 to 485 million years ago, when many kinds of animals with hard shells first appeared in the sea. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cambrian

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cambrian, period, Trilobites, Many animal groups, animals, We · **What happens:** be, appear, mean, do, live, name · **To what, where:** period, sea, Cambrian Mountains, Cambria, Cambrian seas, Cambrian explosion · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cambrian was a period of Earth's history about 540 to 485 million years ago, when many kinds of animals with hard shells first appeared in the sea.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:m1:1
# text = The Cambrian was a period of Earth's history about 540 to 485 million years ago, when many kinds of animals with hard shells first appeared in the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	about	about	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	540	540	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	compound	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	485	485	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	_
14	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl:unmarked	_	_
16	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
19	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	nsubj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	_
23	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nmod	_	_
26	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	27	advmod	_	_
27	appeared	appear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
28	in	in	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	27	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Cambrian | a period |  |  |  | of Earth's history; ago *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **appear** | past | a period |  |  | the sea |  | first *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=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 -->
Cambrian means to do with Wales, as in the Cambrian Mountains, from Cambria, the Latin name for Wales.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:m2:1
# text = Cambrian means to do with Wales, as in the Cambrian Mountains, from Cambria, the Latin name for Wales.
1	Cambrian	cambrian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	Mountains	Mountain	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Cambria	Cambria	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	Latin	Latin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Cambrian |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the Cambrian Mountains |  | Cambria |  | with Wales | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mountain=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trilobites lived in Cambrian seas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x1:1
# text = Trilobites lived in Cambrian seas.
1	Trilobites	trilobite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | Trilobites |  |  | Cambrian seas |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many animal groups appeared in the Cambrian explosion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x2:1
# text = Many animal groups appeared in the Cambrian explosion.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	appeared	appear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	explosion	explosion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appear** | past | Many animal groups |  |  | the Cambrian explosion |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in explosion=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were no animals on land in the Cambrian.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x3:1
# text = There were no animals on land in the Cambrian.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no animals on land in the Cambrian |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cambrian period is named after Wales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x4:1
# text = The Cambrian period is named after Wales.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** | present · passive |  | the Cambrian period |  |  | after Wales |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We hiked in the Cambrian Mountains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x5:1
# text = We hiked in the Cambrian Mountains.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hiked	hike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Cambrian	Cambrian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Mountains	Mountain	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hike** | past | We |  |  | the Cambrian Mountains |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in mountain=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cambrian rocks contain early fossils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cambrian:x6:1
# text = Cambrian rocks contain early fossils.
1	Cambrian	cambrian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fossils	fossil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | Cambrian rocks | early fossils |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot fossil=Theme |

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**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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