---
title: cow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cow» in the school dictionary: A cow is a big farm animal that gives milk and says «moo». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cow, big farm animal, male, baby, farmer, many legs · **What happens:** be, give, say, call, have, do · **To what, where:** big farm animal, milk, moo, female, bull, calf · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cow» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [cow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cow is a big farm animal that gives milk and says «moo».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:m1:1
# text = A cow is a big farm animal that gives milk and says «moo».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	moo	moo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cow | a big farm animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | a big farm animal | milk |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent milk=Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a big farm animal *not said here* | moo |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent moo=Topic |

<!-- .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 cow is the female of cattle; the male is a bull and the baby is a calf.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:m2:1
# text = A cow is the female of cattle; the male is a bull and the baby is a calf.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cattle	cattle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	male	male	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bull	bull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cow | the female |  |  |  | of cattle | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the male | a bull and a calf |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | the baby | a calf |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Female elephants and whales are also called cows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:m3:1
# text = Female elephants and whales are also called cows.
1	Female	female	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Female elephants and whales |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer has 12 cows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x1:1
# text = The farmer has 12 cows.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cows	cow	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 | **have** | present | the farmer | 12 cows |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cow=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each cow gives 8 liters of milk a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x2:1
# text = Each cow gives 8 liters of milk a day.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	liters	liter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | each cow | 8 liters of milk |  |  | day |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liter=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many legs do 5 cows have?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x3:1
# text = How many legs do 5 cows have?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | many legs |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | 5 cows |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 3 more cows than horses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x4:1
# text = There are 3 more cows than horses.
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	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 3 more cows than horses |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cow says moo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x5:1
# text = The cow says moo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	moo	moo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the cow | moo |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent moo=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cow and her calf stood in the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x6:1
# text = The cow and her calf stood in the field.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the cow and her calf |  |  | the field |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in field=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cows eat grass all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x7:1
# text = Cows eat grass all day.
1	Cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Cows | grass |  |  | day |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We get milk from cows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x8:1
# text = We get milk from cows.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | We | milk |  |  |  | from cows | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent milk=Theme from cow=Source |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘What! haven’t you got a cow?’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cow:x9:1
# text = ‘What! haven’t you got a cow?’
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **get** | past | you | a cow |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cow=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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