---
title: couch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «couch» in the school dictionary: A long comfortable seat for two or more people to sit on; a sofa. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# couch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** room, person, We, you, doctor, uncle · **What happens:** sit on, pad, lie on, sit, watch, do · **To what, where:** TV, little exercise, something, certain way, polite words, couch

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long comfortable seat for two or more people to sit on; a sofa.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:m1:1
# text = A long comfortable seat for two or more people to sit on; a sofa.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	comfortable	comfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit on** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 long padded seat or bed in a doctor's room for lying on.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:m2:1
# text = A long padded seat or bed in a doctor's room for lying on.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	padded	pad	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pad** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **lie on** | gerund | a doctor's room *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Couch potato (informal): a person who sits watching TV a lot and does little exercise.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:m3:1
# text = Couch potato (informal): a person who sits watching TV a lot and does little exercise.
1	Couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
17	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | gerund | a person *not said here* | TV |  |  |  | a lot *obl* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tv=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | present | a person *not said here* | little exercise |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent exercise=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To express something in a certain way: couched in polite words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:m4:1
# text = To express something in a certain way: couched in polite words.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	express	express	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	couched	couch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **express** | to-infinitive |  | something |  | a certain way |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **couch** | participle |  | a certain way *not said here* |  | polite words |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We all sat on the couch to watch the film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x1:1
# text = We all sat on the couch to watch the film.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	all	all	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | We |  |  | the couch |  | all *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on couch=Location |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the film |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent film=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog isn't allowed on the couch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x2:1
# text = The dog isn't allowed on the couch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **allow** | present · passive |  | the dog |  | the couch |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a couch potato — go outside and play!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x3:1
# text = Don't be a couch potato — go outside and play!
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
9	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | a couch potato |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | outside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **play** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor asked me to lie on the couch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x4:1
# text = The doctor asked me to lie on the couch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lie	lie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the doctor |  | me |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lie** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the doctor *not said here* |  |  | the couch |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on couch=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle slept on the couch when he visited.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x5:1
# text = My uncle slept on the couch when he visited.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slept	sleep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | participle | My uncle |  |  | the couch |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **visit** | past | uncle |  |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The letter was couched in very polite language.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x6:1
# text = (formal) The letter was couched in very polite language.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	couched	couch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **couch** | past · passive |  | the formal letter |  | polite language |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In he came flying, and lay down beneath the cushions of my couch."

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:couch:x7:1
# text = In he came flying, and lay down beneath the cushions of my couch."
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
4	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	lay	lay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	beneath	beneath	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cushions	cushion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	couch	couch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **lay down** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the cushions of my couch |  | down *property* | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent beneath cushion=Destination |

<!-- 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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