---
title: elephant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «elephant» in the school dictionary: An elephant is a very large grey animal with a long trunk, big ears and usually tusks; it lives in Africa and Asia. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# elephant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** elephant, everyone, nobody, African elephants, Baby elephants, window · **What happens:** be, live, know about, talk about, spray, have · **To what, where:** large grey animal, Africa, big problem, water, bigger ears, plants

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elephant is a very large grey animal with a long trunk, big ears and usually tusks; it lives in Africa and Asia.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:m1:1
# text = An elephant is a very large grey animal with a long trunk, big ears and usually tusks; it lives in Africa and Asia.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	trunk	trunk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a elephant | a large grey animal |  |  |  | with a long trunk and big ears and tusks | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | elephant |  |  | Africa and Asia |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in africa=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
«The elephant in the room» is a big problem everyone knows about but nobody talks about.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:m2:1
# text = «The elephant in the room» is a big problem everyone knows about but nobody talks about.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	13	nsubj	_	_
13	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	about	about	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	17	nsubj	_	_
17	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
18	about	about	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the elephant in the room | a big problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **know about** | present | everyone | a big problem *not said here* |  |  |  | about *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer problem=Stimulus |
| 3 | **talk about** | present | nobody |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elephant sprayed water with its trunk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x1:1
# text = The elephant sprayed water with its trunk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sprayed	spray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	trunk	trunk	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 | **spray** | past | the elephant | water |  |  |  | with elephant's trunk | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: agent=Agent water=Destination with trunk=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
African elephants have bigger ears than Asian elephants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x2:1
# text = African elephants have bigger ears than Asian elephants.
1	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Asian	Asian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | African elephants | bigger ears |  |  |  | than Asian elephants | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elephant eats plants all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x3:1
# text = An elephant eats plants all day.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | a elephant | plants |  |  | day |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plant=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baby elephants stay close to their mothers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x4:1
# text = Baby elephants stay close to their mothers.
1	Baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stay	stay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mothers	mother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | present | Baby elephants |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elephant weighs as much as five cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x5:1
# text = The elephant weighs as much as five cars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	weighs	weigh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weigh** | present | the elephant | much |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme much=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody mentioned the broken window — it was the elephant in the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x6:1
# text = Nobody mentioned the broken window — it was the elephant in the room.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mentioned	mention	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	room	room	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 | **mention** *speech: other* | past | Nobody | the broken window |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent window=Topic |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | past | window | the elephant |  | the room |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 3 elephants and each eats 150 kg of food a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elephant:x7:1
# text = There are 3 elephants and each eats 150 kg of food a day.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
7	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	150	150	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	kg	kg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 3 elephants |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **eat** | present | each | 150 kg of food |  |  | day |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kg=Patient |

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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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