---
title: clams — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clams» in the school dictionary: Clams are shellfish with two hard shells joined by a hinge, which live in sand or mud. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clams

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Clams, hinge, We, Clam chowder, giant clams, teacher · **What happens:** be, join, live, eat, clam up, mean · **To what, where:** shellfish, two hard shells, sand, Clams, shyness, dollars · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clams» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [clams in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clams.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clams are shellfish with two hard shells joined by a hinge, which live in sand or mud.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:m1:1
# text = Clams are shellfish with two hard shells joined by a hinge, which live in sand or mud.
1	Clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	shellfish	shellfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hinge	hinge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Clams | shellfish |  |  |  | with two hard shells | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two hard shells *not said here* |  |  |  | by a hinge | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **live** | present | a hinge |  |  | sand or mud |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sand=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 -->
Clams are eaten as food, as in clam chowder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:m2:1
# text = Clams are eaten as food, as in clam chowder.
1	Clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	clam	clam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	chowder	chowder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present · passive |  | Clams |  |  |  | as food | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To clam up means to suddenly stop talking, often from shyness or fear.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:m3:1
# text = To clam up means to suddenly stop talking, often from shyness or fear.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	clam	clam	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	nsubj	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	shyness	shyness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clam up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  | shyness or fear |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US slang, old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clams can mean dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:m4:1
# text = Clams can mean dollars.
1	Clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	dollars	dollar	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 | **mean** | can | Clams | dollars |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dollar=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We dug for clams at low tide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x1:1
# text = We dug for clams at low tide.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tide	tide	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 | **dig** | past | We |  |  | low tide |  | for clams | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for clam=Theme at tide=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clam chowder is a creamy soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x2:1
# text = Clam chowder is a creamy soup.
1	Clam	clam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	chowder	chowder	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	creamy	creamy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 | Clam chowder | a creamy soup |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The giant clams on the reef were bigger than me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x3:1
# text = The giant clams on the reef were bigger than me.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	reef	reef	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the giant clams on the reef |  |  |  |  | than me; big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the teacher asked, he clammed up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x4:1
# text = When the teacher asked, he clammed up.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	clammed	clam	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **clam up** | past | teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clams breathe through gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x5:1
# text = Clams breathe through gills.
1	Clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	gills	gill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | Clams |  |  | gills |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That bike cost fifty clams! (slang)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* That bike cost fifty clams!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x6:1
# text = That bike cost fifty clams!
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cost	cost	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fifty	fifty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	clams	clam	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 | **cost** | present | that bike | fifty clams |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme clam=Value |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (slang)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x6:2
# text = (slang)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clams:x7:1
# text = A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dish	dish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	venison	venison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	however	however	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
10	unacceptable	unacceptable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
18	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	17	advmod	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	oysters	oyster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	clams	clam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a dish of venison | no unacceptable meal | them *= they* |  |  | however *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **feed** | gerund | no unacceptable meal *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on oysters and clams; especially, long *property* | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on oyster=Patient |

<!-- 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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