---
title: fern — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fern» in the school dictionary: A fern is a green plant with no flowers and long feathery leaves called fronds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fern

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fern, long feathery leaves, Ferns, spores, brown dots, Dinosaurs · **What happens:** be, call, make, grow, have, walk · **To what, where:** green plant, fronds, new plants, tiny spores, brown dots, shady part · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fern is a green plant with no flowers and long feathery leaves called fronds.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:m1:1
# text = A fern is a green plant with no flowers and long feathery leaves called fronds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fern	fern	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	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	feathery	feathery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
14	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
15	fronds	frond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fern | a green plant |  |  |  | with no flowers and long feathery leaves | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | long feathery leaves *not said here* | fronds |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Ferns make new plants from tiny spores, not seeds; the spores grow in brown dots under the fronds.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:m2:1
# text = Ferns make new plants from tiny spores, not seeds; the spores grow in brown dots under the fronds.
1	Ferns	fern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
18	under	under	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	fronds	frond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Ferns | new plants |  | tiny spores and seeds |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset plant=Product from spore=Material |
| 2 | **grow** | present | the spores |  |  | brown dots under the fronds |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in dot=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ferns grow in the shady part of the wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x1:1
# text = Ferns grow in the shady part of the wood.
1	Ferns	fern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shady	shady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Ferns |  |  | the shady part of the wood |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in part=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fern has no flowers and no seeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x2:1
# text = A fern has no flowers and no seeds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fern	fern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a fern | no flowers and no seeds |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The brown dots under the leaf are spores.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x3:1
# text = The brown dots under the leaf are spores.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	spores	spore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the brown dots under the leaf | spores |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinosaurs walked among giant ferns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x4:1
# text = Dinosaurs walked among giant ferns.
1	Dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	among	among	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ferns	fern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | Dinosaurs |  |  | giant ferns |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme among fern=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The All Blacks have a silver fern on their shirts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x5:1
# text = The All Blacks have a silver fern on their shirts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	Blacks	black	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fern	fern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	shirts	shirt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the Blacks | a silver fern |  | Blacks's shirts |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fern=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby fern frond is curled up like a snail shell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x6:1
# text = A baby fern frond is curled up like a snail shell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	fern	fern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	frond	frond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	curled	curl	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curl up** | present · passive |  | a fern frond |  |  |  | like a snail shell | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She did not seem at all inclined to part with the fern stems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fern:x7:1
# text = She did not seem at all inclined to part with the fern stems.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
7	inclined	incline	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	fern	fern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	stems	stem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **seem** | past · do-support | She |  |  | inclined part with the fern stems |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **incline** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn addict-96 «NP V NP PP.Theme»: agent=Agent |

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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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