---
title: elf — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «elf» in the school dictionary: An elf is a small magical creature in stories and folk tales, often with pointed ears, who can be helpful or tricky. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# elf

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** elf, small magical creature, stories, helpers, elves, beautiful people · **What happens:** be, make, live, wrap, move, dress up · **To what, where:** small magical creature, stories, helpers, toys, North Pole, fantasy books · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elf is a small magical creature in stories and folk tales, often with pointed ears, who can be helpful or tricky.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:m1:1
# text = An elf is a small magical creature in stories and folk tales, often with pointed ears, who can be helpful or tricky.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elf	elf	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	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	magical	magical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
20	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	cop	_	_
22	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	tricky	tricky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a elf | a small magical creature and pointed ears |  | stories and folk tales |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | can | a small magical creature and pointed ears |  |  |  |  | helpful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | a small magical creature and pointed ears *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
In Christmas stories, elves are Santa's helpers who make toys at the North Pole.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:m2:1
# text = In Christmas stories, elves are Santa's helpers who make toys at the North Pole.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	elves	elf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	Santa	Santa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	Pole	Pole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | stories and elves | Santa's helpers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | Santa's helpers | toys |  | the North Pole |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toy=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In fantasy books and games, like «The Lord of the Rings», elves are tall, wise, beautiful people who live very long.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:m3:1
# text = In fantasy books and games, like «The Lord of the Rings», elves are tall, wise, beautiful people who live very long.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	fantasy	fantasy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Rings	ring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
16	elves	elf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
24	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	25	nsubj	_	_
25	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	acl:relcl	_	_
26	very	very	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
27	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | elves |  |  | fantasy books and games and the Rings |  | beautiful people *obl*; tall *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | elves *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **live** | present | beautiful people |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elves made shoes for the poor shoemaker.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x1:1
# text = The elves made shoes for the poor shoemaker.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elves	elf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	shoemaker	shoemaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the elves | shoes |  |  |  | for the poor shoemaker | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent shoe=Material for shoemaker=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Santa's elves wrap presents in the workshop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x2:1
# text = Santa's elves wrap presents in the workshop.
1	Santa	Santa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	elves	elf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wrap	wrap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	presents	present	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	workshop	workshop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrap** | present | Santa's elves | presents |  | the workshop |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent present=Theme in workshop=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our Elf on the Shelf moves every night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x3:1
# text = Our Elf on the Shelf moves every night.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Elf	elf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | Our Elf on the Shelf |  |  |  | night |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Legolas is an elf in «The Lord of the Rings».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x4:1
# text = Legolas is an elf in «The Lord of the Rings».
1	Legolas	Legolas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	elf	elf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Rings	ring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Legolas | a elf |  |  |  | in the Lord; of the Rings | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She dressed up as an elf for the school play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x5:1
# text = She dressed up as an elf for the school play.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dressed	dress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	elf	elf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dress up** | past | She |  |  |  |  | as a elf; for the school play | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elf had pointy ears and a green hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x6:1
# text = The elf had pointy ears and a green hat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elf	elf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pointy	pointy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the elf | pointy ears and a green hat |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Iceland some people tell stories about hidden elves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x7:1
# text = In Iceland some people tell stories about hidden elves.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Iceland	Iceland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	elves	elf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | some people | stories |  | Iceland |  | about hidden elves | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent story=Recipient about elf=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The poor little elf was very much frightened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elf:x8:1
# text = The poor little elf was very much frightened.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	elf	elf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	much	much	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past · passive |  | the poor little elf |  |  |  | frightened *property* | 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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