---
title: constellation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constellation» in the school dictionary: A constellation is a group of stars that people see as a pattern or picture in the night sky and give a name to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constellation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** constellation, people, Orion, Plough, you, Sailors · **What happens:** be, see, give, mean, look, call · **To what, where:** group, that, night sky, name, constellation, part · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«constellation» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [constellation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/constellation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A constellation is a group of stars that people see as a pattern or picture in the night sky and give a name to.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:m1:1
# text = A constellation is a group of stars that people see as a pattern or picture in the night sky and give a name to.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a constellation | a group |  |  |  | of stars | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | present | people | that |  | the night sky |  | as a pattern or picture | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer that=Stimulus as pattern=Attribute |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive | people *not said here* | a name |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Theme |

<!-- .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 constellation can mean a group of related things or people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:m2:1
# text = A constellation can mean a group of related things or people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | a constellation | a group of related things or people |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Orion is a constellation that looks like a hunter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x1:1
# text = Orion is a constellation that looks like a hunter.
1	Orion	Orion	PROPN	NNP	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	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hunter	hunter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Orion | a constellation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | a constellation |  |  |  |  | like a hunter | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Plough is part of a constellation called the Great Bear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x2:1
# text = The Plough is part of a constellation called the Great Bear.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Plough	Plough	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Plough | part |  |  |  | of a constellation | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a constellation *not said here* | the Great Bear |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia you can see the Southern Cross constellation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x3:1
# text = In Australia you can see the Southern Cross constellation.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	Southern	Southern	PROPN	NNP	_	8	flat	_	_
8	Cross	Cross	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | can | you | the Cross constellation |  | Australia |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer constellation=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors used constellations to find their way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x4:1
# text = Sailors used constellations to find their way.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	constellations	constellation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Sailors | constellations |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent constellation=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Sailors *not said here* | Sailors's way |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We looked for constellations on the camping trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x5:1
# text = We looked for constellations on the camping trip.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	constellations	constellation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	camping	camping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	trip	trip	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 | **look** | past | We |  |  | the camping trip |  | for constellations | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for constellation=Theme on trip=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 88 official constellations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x6:1
# text = There are 88 official constellations.
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	88	88	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	constellations	constellation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 88 official constellations |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stars in a constellation may be very far from each other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x7:1
# text = Stars in a constellation may be very far from each other.
1	Stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	8	obl	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | may | Stars in a constellation |  |  | each |  | far *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After her death she was placed by Zeus among the stars as a constellation, under the name of Arctos, or the bear.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constellation:x8:1
# text = After her death she was placed by Zeus among the stars as a constellation, under the name of Arctos, or the bear.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Zeus	Zeus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	among	among	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	constellation	constellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	under	under	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Arctos	Arctos	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **place** | past · passive | Zeus | she |  | the name of Arctos | after her death | among the stars; as a constellation; the bear *obl* | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Theme among star=Destination |
| 2 | **die** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 3 | **name** |  |  | Arctos |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=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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