---
title: cat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cat» in the school dictionary: A cat is a small furry animal that people keep as a pet; it has whiskers, claws and a long tail. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cat, people, 4 cats, She, 5 cats, Lions · **What happens:** be, keep, have, eat, go, purr · **To what, where:** small furry animal, whiskers, animal, 2 cans, 3 cats, cat

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cat is a small furry animal that people keep as a pet; it has whiskers, claws and a long tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:m1:1
# text = A cat is a small furry animal that people keep as a pet; it has whiskers, claws and a long tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	furry	furry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	whiskers	whisker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cat | a small furry animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | people | a small furry animal |  |  |  | as a pet | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present | cat | whiskers and claws and a long tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whisker=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 -->
A cat is any animal of the cat family, like a lion, tiger or leopard («big cats»).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:m2:1
# text = A cat is any animal of the cat family, like a lion, tiger or leopard («big cats»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	animal	animal	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	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	tiger	tiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	leopard	leopard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	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 cat | any animal |  |  |  | of the cat family | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 4 cats. How many legs?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* There are 4 cats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x1:1
# text = There are 4 cats.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 4 cats |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* How many legs?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x1:2
# text = How many legs?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each cat eats 2 cans of food a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x2:1
# text = Each cat eats 2 cans of food a day.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cans	can	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | each cat | 2 cans of food |  |  | day |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent can=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has 3 cats and 2 dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x3:1
# text = She has 3 cats and 2 dogs.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | 3 cats and 2 dogs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
5 cats went outside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x4:1
# text = 5 cats went outside.
1	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | 5 cats |  |  |  |  | outside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat purred on my lap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x5:1
# text = The cat purred on my lap.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	purred	purr	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	lap	lap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purr** | participle |  | the cat *not said here* |  | my lap |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on lap=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lions and tigers are big cats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x6:1
# text = Lions and tigers are big cats.
1	Lions	lion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	tigers	tiger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lions and tigers | big cats |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's raining cats and dogs!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x7:1
# text = It's raining cats and dogs!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | present · progressive | It | cats and dogs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our cat catches mice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x8:1
# text = Our cat catches mice.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	catches	catch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | present | Our cat | mice |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mouse=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't pull the cat's tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x9:1
# text = Don't pull the cat's tail.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **pull** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the cat's tail |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Theme |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cat:x10:1
# text = He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | past | He | the cat |  | the bag about the surprise |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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