---
title: critter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «critter» in the school dictionary: A critter is any creature or animal, especially a small one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# critter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** critter, woods, Squirrels, You, poor critter, We · **What happens:** be, say, joke, dig up, critter, find · **To what, where:** creature, person, joking way, vegetable patch, cute critters, slimy critter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«critter» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [critter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/critter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, mainly US — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A critter is any creature or animal, especially a small one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:m1:1
# text = A critter is any creature or animal, especially a small one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critter	critter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a critter | any creature or animal and a small one |  |  |  |  | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A critter can be a person, said in a joking or fond way.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:m2:1
# text = A critter can be a person, said in a joking or fond way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critter	critter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	fond	fond	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
14	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can |  | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a critter |  |  | a joking way |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in way=Manner |
| 3 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some critter dug up the vegetable patch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x1:1
# text = Some critter dug up the vegetable patch.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	critter	critter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	patch	patch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | participle | some critter | the vegetable patch |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent patch=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The woods are full of little critters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x2:1
# text = The woods are full of little critters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	critters	critter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the woods |  |  |  |  | of little critters; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Squirrels and chipmunks are cute critters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x3:1
# text = Squirrels and chipmunks are cute critters.
1	Squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	chipmunks	chipmunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	cute	cute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	critters	critter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Squirrels and chipmunks | cute critters |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You poor critter,» said the farmer to the lamb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x4:1
# text = «You poor critter,» said the farmer to the lamb.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	critter	critter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **critter** *in a quote* |  | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | poor critter |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a slimy critter under the rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x5:1
# text = We found a slimy critter under the rock.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	slimy	slimy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	critter	critter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rock	rock	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 | **find** | past | We | a slimy critter |  | the rock |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent critter=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kids collected critters in jars and let them go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:critter:x6:1
# text = The kids collected critters in jars and let them go.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	critters	critter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	jars	jar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | the kids | critters |  | jars |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent critter=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | the kids *not said here* | critters *= critter* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | critters *= critter* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**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.

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