---
title: dolphin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dolphin» in the school dictionary: A dolphin is a clever sea mammal with a long snout and a curved fin, that lives in groups and breathes air through a blowhole. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dolphin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dolphin, that, kinds, pod, Dolphins, usual attributes · **What happens:** be, curve, live, breathe, swim, use · **To what, where:** clever sea mammal, groups, air, blowhole, rivers, boat · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dolphin» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [dolphin in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dolphin.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dolphin is a clever sea mammal with a long snout and a curved fin, that lives in groups and breathes air through a blowhole.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:m1:1
# text = A dolphin is a clever sea mammal with a long snout and a curved fin, that lives in groups and breathes air through a blowhole.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dolphin	dolphin	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	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	breathes	breathe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
23	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
24	through	through	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dolphin | a clever sea mammal |  |  |  | with a long snout and a curved fin | tree rules |
| 2 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |
| 3 | **live** | present | that |  |  | groups |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in group=Location |
| 4 | **breathe** | present | that *not said here* | air |  | a blowhole |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Some kinds of dolphin live in rivers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:m2:1
# text = Some kinds of dolphin live in rivers.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | some kinds of dolphin |  |  | rivers |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in river=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pod of dolphins swam beside our boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x1:1
# text = A pod of dolphins swam beside our boat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pod	pod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | a pod of dolphins |  |  | our boat |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme beside boat=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins breathe through a blowhole on their head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x2:1
# text = Dolphins breathe through a blowhole on their head.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | Dolphins |  |  | a blowhole on Dolphins's head |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dolphin is a mammal, not a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x3:1
# text = A dolphin is a mammal, not a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dolphin | a mammal |  |  |  | a fish *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins use echolocation to find fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x4:1
# text = Dolphins use echolocation to find fish.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	echolocation	echolocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Dolphins | echolocation |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent echolocation=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Dolphins *not said here* | fish |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dolphins leapt out of the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x5:1
# text = The dolphins leapt out of the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leapt	leapt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	water	water	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 | **leapt out** | past | the dolphins | the water |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baby dolphins are called calves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x6:1
# text = Baby dolphins are called calves.
1	Baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	calves	calf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some dolphins live in rivers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x7:1
# text = Some dolphins live in rivers.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | some dolphins |  |  | rivers |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in river=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins are very playful and clever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x8:1
# text = Dolphins are very playful and clever.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	playful	playful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dolphins |  |  |  |  | playful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Dolphins *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His usual attributes are the trident, horse, and dolphin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dolphin:x9:1
# text = His usual attributes are the trident, horse, and dolphin.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	attributes	attribute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trident	trident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | His usual attributes | the trident and horse and dolphin |  |  |  |  | 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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