---
title: clan — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clan» in the school dictionary: A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clan

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clan, families, friends, porpoises, MacGregor clan, whole clan · **What happens:** be, share, stick together, live, travel, have · **To what, where:** large group, same ancestor, big close family, team, online games, group

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:m1:1
# text = A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clan	clan	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	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	ancestor	ancestor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clan | a large group |  |  |  | of families | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** | present | families | the same ancestor |  |  |  |  | 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 clan is a big, close family or a group of friends who stick together (informal).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:m2:1
# text = A clan is a big, close family or a group of friends who stick together (informal).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
14	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	stick	stick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	together	together	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clan | a big close family or a group of friends |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stick together** | present | friends |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In online games, a clan is a team of players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:m3:1
# text = In online games, a clan is a team of players.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	online	online	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clan | a team |  | online games |  | of players | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clan can also be a group of animals, such as porpoises, that live and travel together.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:m4:1
# text = A clan can also be a group of animals, such as porpoises, that live and travel together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	porpoises	porpoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	travel	travel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
19	together	together	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a clan | a group |  |  |  | of animals such porpoises | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | porpoises |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **travel** | present | porpoises *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The MacGregor clan had its own tartan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x1:1
# text = The MacGregor clan had its own tartan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	MacGregor	MacGregor	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tartan	tartan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the MacGregor clan | clan's own tartan |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tartan=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whole clan came round for Gran's birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x2:1
# text = The whole clan came round for Gran's birthday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	round	round	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come round** | past | the whole clan |  |  |  |  | for Gran's birthday; round *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each clan in the story had a different leader.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x3:1
# text = Each clan in the story had a different leader.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | each clan in the story | a different leader |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He joined a clan in his online game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x4:1
# text = He joined a clan in his online game.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	joined	join	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	clan	clan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	online	online	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	game	game	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 | **join** | past | He | a clan |  | his online game |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clan=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clans in the Highlands sometimes fought each other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x5:1
# text = Clans in the Highlands sometimes fought each other.
1	Clans	clan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Highlands	highland	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	advmod	_	_
6	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	6	obj	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | past | Clans in the Highlands | each |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent each=Co-Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our family is a noisy clan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x6:1
# text = Our family is a noisy clan.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	family	family	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	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	clan	clan	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 | Our family | a noisy clan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Porpoises went snorting past in bands and clans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clan:x7:1
# text = Porpoises went snorting past in bands and clans.
1	Porpoises	porpoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	snorting	snort	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	past	past	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bands	band	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	clans	clan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Porpoises |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **snort** | gerund | Porpoises *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in bands and clans; past *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in band=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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