---
title: childhood — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «childhood» in the school dictionary: Childhood is the time of a person's life when they are a child. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# childhood

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Childhood, they, someone, Grandma, He, song · **What happens:** be, have, spend, remind, play, learn · **To what, where:** time, child, kind, childhood, farm, happy childhood

<!-- .vabout -->
«childhood» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [childhood in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/childhood.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Childhood is the time of a person's life when they are a child.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:m1:1
# text = Childhood is the time of a person's life when they are a child.
1	Childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Childhood | the time |  |  |  | of a person's life | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | they | a child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 childhood is the kind of life someone had as a child (a happy childhood).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:m2:1
# text = A childhood is the kind of life someone had as a child (a happy childhood).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a childhood | the kind |  |  |  | of life | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | someone | the kind *not said here* |  |  |  | as a child | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma spent her childhood on a farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x1:1
# text = Grandma spent her childhood on a farm.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	farm	farm	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 | **spend** | past | Grandma | Grandma's childhood |  |  |  | on a farm *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent childhood=Asset on farm=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had a happy childhood by the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x2:1
# text = He had a happy childhood by the sea.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	5	det	_	_
4	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They have been best friends since childhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x3:1
# text = They have been best friends since childhood.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	since	since	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present · perfect | They | best friends |  |  | since childhood |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This song reminds Dad of his childhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x4:1
# text = This song reminds Dad of his childhood.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reminds	remind	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remind** *speech: other* | present | this song |  | Dad of song's childhood |  |  |  | vn tell-37.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent dad=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Childhood is a time for playing and learning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x5:1
# text = Childhood is a time for playing and learning.
1	Childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Childhood | a time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | a time *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **learn** | gerund | a time *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wrote a book about her childhood in Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x6:1
# text = She wrote a book about her childhood in Ireland.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | She | a book |  |  |  | about her childhood in Ireland | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent book=Recipient about childhood=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors give children vaccines in early childhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x7:1
# text = Doctors give children vaccines in early childhood.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	iobj	_	_
4	vaccines	vaccine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	childhood	childhood	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 | **give** | present | Doctors | vaccines | children | early childhood |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent child=Recipient vaccine=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That old teddy bear was my childhood toy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x8:1
# text = That old teddy bear was my childhood toy.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	teddy	teddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that teddy bear | my childhood toy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Have you been obliged to toil in this way from your childhood?"

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childhood:x9:1
# text = "Have you been obliged to toil in this way from your childhood?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	toil	toil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** *in a quote* | present · perfect · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Patient clause=Result |
| 2 | **toil** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | this way |  | from your childhood | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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