---
title: dna — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dna» in the school dictionary: DNA is the chemical inside the cells of every living thing that carries the instructions for how it grows, works and what it looks like. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dna

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** DNA, living thing, children, kindness, You, twisted ladder · **What happens:** be, carry, grow, work, look, pass · **To what, where:** chemical, cells, instructions, DNA, children, basic part · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DNA is the chemical inside the cells of every living thing that carries the instructions for how it grows, works and what it looks like.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:m1:1
# text = DNA is the chemical inside the cells of every living thing that carries the instructions for how it grows, works and what it looks like.
1	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	chemical	chemical	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
10	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	25	obj	_	_
24	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	conj	_	_
26	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | DNA | the chemical |  | the cells of every living thing |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | present | every living thing | the instructions |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme |
| 3 | **grow** | present | DNA |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **work** | present | DNA *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **look** | present | DNA |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme what=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
DNA is passed from parents to children, which is why children often look like their parents.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:m2:1
# text = DNA is passed from parents to children, which is why children often look like their parents.
1	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	parataxis	_	_
12	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl:relcl	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | present · passive |  | DNA | children |  |  | from parents | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: subject=Theme from parent=Initial\_Location to child=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | why *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | present | children |  |  |  |  | like children's parents; often *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something's «DNA» is the most basic part of what it is: «kindness is in our school's DNA».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:m3:1
# text = Something's «DNA» is the most basic part of what it is: «kindness is in our school's DNA».
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	9	advmod	_	_
9	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
20	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	's	PART	POS	_	21	case	_	_
23	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Something's DNA | the basic part |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | kindness |  |  | our school's DNA |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DNA is like a recipe book inside every cell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x1:1
# text = DNA is like a recipe book inside every cell.
1	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	recipe	recipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | DNA |  |  | every cell |  | like a recipe book | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You got half your DNA from your mum and half from your dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x2:1
# text = You got half your DNA from your mum and half from your dad.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	5	det:predet	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	8	conj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | You | your DNA |  |  |  | from your mum and half from your dad | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent dna=Theme from mum=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder called a double helix.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x3:1
# text = DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder called a double helix.
1	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	twisted	twisted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	double	double	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	helix	helix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | present · passive |  | DNA |  |  |  | like a twisted ladder | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a twisted ladder *not said here* | a double helix |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detectives found DNA on the cup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x4:1
# text = The detectives found DNA on the cup.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detectives	detective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the detectives | DNA |  | the cup |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dna=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identical twins have almost the same DNA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x5:1
# text = Identical twins have almost the same DNA.
1	Identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	DNA	DNA	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 | **have** | present | Identical twins | the same DNA |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dna=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists can read the DNA of plants and animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x6:1
# text = Scientists can read the DNA of plants and animals.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | can | Scientists | the DNA of plants and animals |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dna=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rosalind Franklin's pictures helped scientists see the shape of DNA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x7:1
# text = Rosalind Franklin's pictures helped scientists see the shape of DNA.
1	Rosalind	Rosalind	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Franklin	Franklin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
4	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Rosalind's pictures | scientists |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent scientist=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | infinitive | scientists *not said here* | the shape of DNA |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer shape=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being curious is part of our family's DNA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dna:x8:1
# text = Being curious is part of our family's DNA.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | curious part |  |  |  | of our family's DNA | tree rules |

<!-- 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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