---
title: donkey — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «donkey» in the school dictionary: An animal like a small horse with long ears and a loud bray, used to carry loads or give rides. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# donkey

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, We, donkey, I, Three donkeys · **What happens:** use, carry, give, do, not be, have · **To what, where:** loud bray, loads, rides, donkey, donkey ride, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An animal like a small horse with long ears and a loud bray, used to carry loads or give rides.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:m1:1
# text = An animal like a small horse with long ears and a loud bray, used to carry loads or give rides.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bray	bray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	loads	load	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
21	rides	ride	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a loud bray *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **carry** | to-infinitive |  | loads |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent load=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive |  | rides |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ride=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silly or stupid person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:m2:1
# text = A silly or stupid person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a donkey!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:m2e:1
# text = Don't be a donkey!
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | a donkey |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«donkey's years» (UK, informal) = a very long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:m3:1
# text = «donkey's years» (UK, informal) = a very long time.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
11	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	15	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	very	very	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a donkey ride on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x1:1
# text = We had a donkey ride on the beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	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	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	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 | **have** | past | We | a donkey ride |  | the beach |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ride=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The donkey carried bags of rice up the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x2:1
# text = The donkey carried bags of rice up the hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rice	rice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | the donkey | bags of rice |  |  |  | up the hill | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A donkey says «hee-haw».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x3:1
# text = A donkey says «hee-haw».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	hee	hee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	haw	haw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I haven't seen her in donkey's years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x4:1
# text = I haven't seen her in donkey's years.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **see** | present · perfect | I | her *= she* |  |  | year |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who does all the donkey work around here?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x5:1
# text = Who does all the donkey work around here?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present |  | all donkey work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three donkeys have 12 legs altogether.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x6:1
# text = Three donkeys have 12 legs altogether.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	donkeys	donkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	altogether	altogether	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Three donkeys | 12 legs |  |  |  | altogether *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You silly donkey, you've put your shoes on the wrong feet!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x7:1
# text = You silly donkey, you've put your shoes on the wrong feet!
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | present · perfect | you | your shoes |  | the wrong feet |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme on foot=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Here on the shoulders of a donkey.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:donkey:x8:1
# text = ‘Here on the shoulders of a donkey.’
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shoulders	shoulder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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