---
title: courtship — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «courtship» in the school dictionary: Special behaviour that animals use to attract a mate, such as dancing, singing, showing off bright feathers or bringing gifts: «the courtship dance of the peacock». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# courtship

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** animals, two people, someone, peacock, Male birds, penguins · **What happens:** use, attract, sing, show off, bring, dance · **To what, where:** Special behaviour, mate, bright feathers, gifts, peacock, each · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«courtship» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [courtship in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/courtship.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Special behaviour that animals use to attract a mate, such as dancing, singing, showing off bright feathers or bringing gifts: «the courtship dance of the peacock».

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:m1:1
# text = Special behaviour that animals use to attract a mate, such as dancing, singing, showing off bright feathers or bringing gifts: «the courtship dance of the peacock».
1	Special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	obj	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	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	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
18	off	off	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	_
19	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	bringing	bring	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	conj	_	_
23	gifts	gift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
25	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	compound	_	_
28	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	peacock	peacock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | animals | Special behaviour |  |  |  | the courtship dance of the peacock *obl* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |
| 2 | **attract** | to-infinitive | animals *not said here* | a mate and dancing |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mate=Patient |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | animals *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **show off** | gerund | animals *not said here* | bright feathers |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feather=Recipient |
| 5 | **bring** | gerund | animals *not said here* | gifts |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent gift=Theme |
| 6 | **dance** *in a quote* |  |  | the peacock |  |  |  |  | nom dance «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time when two people are getting to know each other romantically before getting married.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:m2:1
# text = The time when two people are getting to know each other romantically before getting married.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	9	obj	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	fixed	_	_
12	romantically	romantically	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
13	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	getting	get	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present · progressive | two people |  |  |  | time |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **know** | to-infinitive | two people *not said here* | each |  |  |  | romantically *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **marry** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V» |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying hard to win someone's support or favour: «the company's courtship of new customers».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:m3:1
# text = Trying hard to win someone's support or favour: «the company's courtship of new customers».
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **win** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | someone's support or favour |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent support=Eventuality |
| 3 | **support** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom support «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The peacock spreads its tail in a courtship display.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x1:1
# text = The peacock spreads its tail in a courtship display.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	peacock	peacock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	display	display	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | present | the peacock | peacock's tail |  | a courtship display |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent tail=Theme in display=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Male birds sing in spring as part of courtship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x2:1
# text = Male birds sing in spring as part of courtship.
1	Male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | Male birds |  |  |  | spring | as part of courtship | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some penguins give a pebble as a courtship gift.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x3:1
# text = Some penguins give a pebble as a courtship gift.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pebble	pebble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | some penguins | a pebble |  |  |  | as a courtship gift | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pebble=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old novel, their courtship lasted three years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x4:1
# text = In the old novel, their courtship lasted three years.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | past | their courtship |  |  | the old novel | year |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bowerbirds decorate their bowers with blue things during courtship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x5:1
# text = Bowerbirds decorate their bowers with blue things during courtship.
1	Bowerbirds	bowerbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decorate	decorate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bowers	bower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	during	during	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | present | Bowerbirds | Bowerbirds's bowers |  |  | during courtship | with blue things | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent bower=Destination with thing=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great crested grebes do a famous courtship dance on the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x6:1
# text = Great crested grebes do a famous courtship dance on the water.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	crested	crested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	grebes	grebe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | Great crested grebes | a famous courtship dance |  | the water |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dance=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists filmed the frogs' courtship calls at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x7:1
# text = Scientists filmed the frogs' courtship calls at night.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	filmed	film	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	calls	call	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **film** | past | Scientists | the frogs's courtship calls |  |  | night |  | vn transcribe-25.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent call=Theme |
| 2 | **call** |  | the frogs |  |  |  |  |  | nom call «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:courtship:x8:1
# text = This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	courtship	courtship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	all	all	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | This | his courtship |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **last** | past | courtship | his courtship *not said here* |  |  | summer |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme courtship=Value |

<!-- 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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