---
title: epiglottis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «epiglottis» in the school dictionary: The epiglottis is a small flap at the back of your throat that closes when you swallow, so food goes down to your stomach and not into your lungs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# epiglottis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** epiglottis, throat, you, food, It, air · **What happens:** be, close, swallow, go down, open, breathe · **To what, where:** small flap, back, windpipe, food, lungs, clear food

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epiglottis is a small flap at the back of your throat that closes when you swallow, so food goes down to your stomach and not into your lungs.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:m1:1
# text = The epiglottis is a small flap at the back of your throat that closes when you swallow, so food goes down to your stomach and not into your lungs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	flap	flap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	closes	close	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	swallow	swallow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	so	so	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
22	down	down	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
27	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	30	advmod	_	_
28	into	into	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	30	nmod:poss	_	_
30	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the epiglottis | a small flap |  | the back of your throat |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **close** | present | your throat |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **swallow** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **go down** | present | food |  |  |  |  | to your stomach and your lungs; down *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
It opens again when you breathe so air can reach your windpipe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:m2:1
# text = It opens again when you breathe so air can reach your windpipe.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	opens	open	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	again	again	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	windpipe	windpipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | present | It |  |  |  | again |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **breathe** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **reach** | can | air | your windpipe |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent windpipe=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epiglottis stops food going into your lungs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x1:1
# text = The epiglottis stops food going into your lungs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	lungs	lung	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 | **stop** | present | the epiglottis | food |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality food=Eventuality |
| 2 | **go** | gerund | food *not said here* |  |  | your lungs |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into lung=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When you swallow, the epiglottis covers your windpipe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x2:1
# text = When you swallow, the epiglottis covers your windpipe.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swallow	swallow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	windpipe	windpipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swallow** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cover** | present | the epiglottis | your windpipe |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme windpipe=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you laugh while eating, the epiglottis may not close in time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x3:1
# text = If you laugh while eating, the epiglottis may not close in time.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laugh	laugh	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	close	close	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **close** | may | the epiglottis |  |  |  | time |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coughing helps clear food that went down the wrong way past the epiglottis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x4:1
# text = Coughing helps clear food that went down the wrong way past the epiglottis.
1	Coughing	cough	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	past	past	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** | present |  | clear food |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **go down** | past | clear food | the wrong way |  |  |  | past the epiglottis | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient way=Extent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We labelled the epiglottis on a diagram of the throat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x5:1
# text = We labelled the epiglottis on a diagram of the throat.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	labelled	label	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | past | We | the epiglottis |  | a diagram of the throat |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent epiglottis=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epiglottis is made of soft cartilage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x6:1
# text = The epiglottis is made of soft cartilage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cartilage	cartilage	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 | **make** | present · passive |  | the epiglottis |  |  |  | of soft cartilage | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't talk with your mouth full, because your epiglottis has to choose air or food.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x7:1
# text = Don't talk with your mouth full, because your epiglottis has to choose air or food.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **talk** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your mouth | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with mouth=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **have** | present | your epiglottis |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **choose** | to-infinitive | your epiglottis *not said here* | air or food |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor explained the epiglottis with a model.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epiglottis:x8:1
# text = The doctor explained the epiglottis with a model.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	epiglottis	epiglottis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	model	model	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 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the doctor | the epiglottis |  |  |  | with a model | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent epiglottis=Topic |

<!-- 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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