---
title: crow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crow» in the school dictionary: A crow is a large black bird with a loud harsh call. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crow, rooster, crow flies, you, your, Crows · **What happens:** be, crow, cry, win, mean, sit · **To what, where:** large black bird, rooster, fence, sticks, stones, fable

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crow is a large black bird with a loud harsh call.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:m1:1
# text = A crow is a large black bird with a loud harsh call.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crow	crow	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	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	harsh	harsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crow | a large black bird |  |  |  | with a loud harsh call | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To crow (of a rooster) is to make its loud morning cry.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:m2:1
# text = To crow (of a rooster) is to make its loud morning cry.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	crow	crow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rooster	rooster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
12	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crow** | to-infinitive |  | a rooster |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rooster=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **cry** |  | rooster |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To crow is to boast happily about winning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:m3:1
# text = To crow is to boast happily about winning.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	crow	crow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	boast	boast	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	happily	happily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | boast, happily *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **win** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«As the crow flies» means in a straight line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:m4:1
# text = «As the crow flies» means in a straight line.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	As	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	line	line	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 | **mean** | present | the crow flies |  |  |  |  | in a straight line | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in line=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crow sat on the fence cawing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x1:1
# text = A crow sat on the fence cawing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|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	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	cawing	caw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | a crow |  |  | the fence |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on fence=Location |
| 2 | **caw** | gerund | a crow *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rooster crowed at dawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x2:1
# text = The rooster crowed at dawn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rooster	rooster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crowed	crow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crow** | past | the rooster |  |  |  | dawn |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop crowing about your score.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x3:1
# text = Stop crowing about your score.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	crowing	crow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **crow** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about your score | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about score=Topic |
| 3 | **score** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crows can use sticks as tools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x4:1
# text = Crows can use sticks as tools.
1	Crows	crow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | can | Crows | sticks |  |  |  | as tools | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent stick=Duration as tool=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town is ten miles away as the crow flies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x5:1
# text = The town is ten miles away as the crow flies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the town |  |  |  |  | ten miles *obl:unmarked*; away *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | present | the crow |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fable, the crow dropped stones into the jug.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x6:1
# text = In the fable, the crow dropped stones into the jug.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	jug	jug	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 | **drop** | past | the crow | stones |  | the fable |  | into the jug | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent stone=Theme in fable=Destination into jug=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just then a Crow flew by.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crow:x7:1
# text = Just then a Crow flew by.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly by** | past | a Crow |  |  |  | then |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «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.

<!-- /div -->

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