---
title: dozen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dozen» in the school dictionary: A dozen is twelve: a dozen eggs is 12 eggs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dozen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dozen, Dozens, Mum, baker, dozen eggs, We · **What happens:** be, mean, give, stroke, buy, make · **To what, where:** twelve, 12 eggs, lot, twelve strokes, cane, school · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dozen» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [dozen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dozen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dozen is twelve: a dozen eggs is 12 eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:m1:1
# text = A dozen is twelve: a dozen eggs is 12 eggs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dozen	dozen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | twelve |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a dozen and dozen eggs | 12 eggs |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Dozens means a lot, many: «dozens of people».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:m2:1
# text = Dozens means a lot, many: «dozens of people».
1	Dozens	dozen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	dozens	dozen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Dozens | a lot |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dozen can also mean twelve strokes of the cane given as a punishment at school.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:m3:1
# text = A dozen can also mean twelve strokes of the cane given as a punishment at school.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dozen	dozen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	strokes	stroke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cane	cane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | a dozen | twelve strokes of the cane |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stroke=Topic |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | the cane *not said here* |  | school |  | as a punishment | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent at school=Asset |
| 3 | **stroke** |  |  | the cane |  |  |  |  | nom stroke «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum buys 3 dozen eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x1:1
# text = Mum buys 3 dozen eggs.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	compound	_	_
4	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | Mum | dozen eggs |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum buys nine and a half dozen eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x2:1
# text = Mum buys nine and a half dozen eggs.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	compound	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	3	conj	_	_
7	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | Mum | dozen eggs |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baker made 2 dozen rolls and sold 15.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x3:1
# text = A baker made 2 dozen rolls and sold 15.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baker	baker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	rolls	roll	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
8	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle | a baker *not said here* | dozen rolls |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset roll=Product |
| 2 | **sell** | past | a baker | 15 |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 15=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dozen eggs come in one box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x4:1
# text = A dozen eggs come in one box.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | dozen eggs |  |  | one box |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in box=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Half a dozen is six.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x5:1
# text = Half a dozen is six.
1	Half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	3	det:predet	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dozen	dozen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dozens of birds sat on the wires.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x6:1
# text = Dozens of birds sat on the wires.
1	Dozens	dozen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wires	wire	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 | **sit** | past | Dozens of birds |  |  | the wires |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on wire=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baker's dozen is 13, one extra for luck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x7:1
# text = A baker's dozen is 13, one extra for luck.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baker	baker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	dozen	dozen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a baker's dozen | 13 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We need two dozen cupcakes for the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x8:1
# text = We need two dozen cupcakes for the party.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cupcakes	cupcake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	party	party	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 | **need** | present | We | dozen cupcakes |  |  |  | for the party | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cupcake=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I would rather lose a dozen cherry trees than that you should tell one false-hood."

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dozen:x9:1
# text = I would rather lose a dozen cherry trees than that you should tell one false-hood."
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	cherry	cherry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
9	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
15	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	hood	hood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | would | I | dozen cherry trees |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | should | you | one false hood |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent hood=Recipient |

<!-- 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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