---
title: fantail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fantail» in the school dictionary: A small bird with a tail that spreads out like a fan; in New Zealand the fantail (pīwakawaka) is a common, friendly bird that follows walkers to catch insects. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fantail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small bird, fantail, common friendly bird, Grandad, fantail goldfish, feet · **What happens:** spread out, be, follow, catch, shape, flit · **To what, where:** common friendly bird, New Zealand, walkers, insects, tail, fantail · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fantail» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [fantail in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fantail.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small bird with a tail that spreads out like a fan; in New Zealand the fantail (pīwakawaka) is a common, friendly bird that follows walkers to catch insects.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:m1:1
# text = A small bird with a tail that spreads out like a fan; in New Zealand the fantail (pīwakawaka) is a common, friendly bird that follows walkers to catch insects.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	flat	_	_
16	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	pīwakawaka	pīwakawaka	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
24	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
26	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	_
28	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	29	nsubj	_	_
29	follows	follow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	acl:relcl	_	_
30	walkers	walker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	obj	_	_
31	to	to	PART	TO	_	32	mark	_	_
32	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	29	advcl	_	_
33	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	32	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread out** | present | a small bird with a tail |  |  |  |  | like a fan | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the fantail | a common friendly bird |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **follow** | present | a common friendly bird | walkers |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent walker=Theme |
| 4 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a common friendly bird *not said here* | insects |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kind of fancy pigeon or goldfish with a fan-shaped tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:m2:1
# text = A kind of fancy pigeon or goldfish with a fan-shaped tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	fancy	fancy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pigeon	pigeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	goldfish	goldfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tail or end shaped like a fan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:m3:1
# text = A tail or end shaped like a fan.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  | a tail or end *not said here* |  |  |  | like a fan | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fantail flitted along the bush track beside us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x1:1
# text = A fantail flitted along the bush track beside us.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	flitted	flit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bush	bush	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	track	track	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | participle |  | a fantail *not said here* |  | the bush track beside us |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along track=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fantail spread its tail like a little fan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x2:1
# text = The fantail spread its tail like a little fan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fan	fan	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 | **spread** | past | the fantail | fantail's tail |  |  |  | like a little fan | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location tail=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In New Zealand the fantail is called pīwakawaka.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x3:1
# text = In New Zealand the fantail is called pīwakawaka.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	pīwakawaka	pīwakawaka	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the fantail |  | New Zealand |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad keeps white fantail pigeons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x4:1
# text = Grandad keeps white fantail pigeons.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	pigeons	pigeon	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 | **keep** | present | Grandad | white fantail pigeons |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pigeon=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our fantail goldfish has a long, flowing tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x5:1
# text = Our fantail goldfish has a long, flowing tail.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	goldfish	goldfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	flowing	flow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our fantail goldfish | a long flowing tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **flow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fantail snapped up insects that our feet disturbed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fantail:x6:1
# text = The fantail snapped up insects that our feet disturbed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fantail	fantail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snapped	snap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	disturbed	disturb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snap up** | past | the fantail | insects |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location insect=Theme |
| 2 | **disturb** | past | our feet | insects |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus that=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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