---
title: characteristic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «characteristic» in the school dictionary: A characteristic is a special quality or feature that helps you tell one thing or person from another, like a tiger's stripes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# characteristic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** characteristic, special quality, you, One characteristic, Kindness, He · **What happens:** be, help, tell, mean, smile, sort · **To what, where:** special quality, you, one thing, typical, best characteristic, animals · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A characteristic is a special quality or feature that helps you tell one thing or person from another, like a tiger's stripes.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:m1:1
# text = A characteristic is a special quality or feature that helps you tell one thing or person from another, like a tiger's stripes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	feature	feature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
20	like	like	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	tiger	tiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	's	's	PART	POS	_	22	case	_	_
24	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a characteristic | a special quality or feature |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | a special quality or feature | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | one thing or person from another |  |  |  | like a tiger's stripes | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent thing=Recipient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Characteristic means typical of someone or something: «his characteristic smile».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:m2:1
# text = Characteristic means typical of someone or something: «his characteristic smile».
1	Characteristic	Characteristic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	typical	typical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	characteristic	characteristic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Characteristic | typical |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent typical=Topic |
| 2 | **smile** *in a quote* |  | Characteristic |  |  |  |  |  | nom smile «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One characteristic of birds is that they have feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x1:1
# text = One characteristic of birds is that they have feathers.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | One characteristic of birds |  |  |  |  | have *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A square's characteristics: four equal sides and four right angles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x2:1
# text = A square's characteristics: four equal sides and four right angles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	characteristics	characteristic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
11	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	angles	angle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kindness is her best characteristic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x3:1
# text = Kindness is her best characteristic.
1	Kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Kindness | her best characteristic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sorting animals by their characteristics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x4:1
# text = Sorting animals by their characteristics.
1	Sorting	sort	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	characteristics	characteristic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort** | gerund |  | animals |  |  |  | by animals's characteristics | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave his characteristic loud laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x5:1
# text = He gave his characteristic loud laugh.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	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	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | his characteristic and loud laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent characteristic=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is characteristic of cats to sleep a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characteristic:x6:1
# text = It is characteristic of cats to sleep a lot.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | characteristic |  |  |  | of cats | tree rules |
| 2 | **sleep** | to-infinitive |  | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=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 -->

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