---
title: finch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «finch» in the school dictionary: A finch is a small songbird with a short, strong, cone-shaped beak for cracking seeds, such as a goldfinch, chaffinch or greenfinch. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# finch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** finch, short strong shaped beak, goldfinch, Finches, Darwin, chaffinch · **What happens:** be, shape, crack, come, study, have · **To what, where:** small songbird, seeds, bird feeder, finches, one, beak · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A finch is a small songbird with a short, strong, cone-shaped beak for cracking seeds, such as a goldfinch, chaffinch or greenfinch.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:m1:1
# text = A finch is a small songbird with a short, strong, cone-shaped beak for cracking seeds, such as a goldfinch, chaffinch or greenfinch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	finch	finch	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	songbird	songbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
9	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	cone	cone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	amod	_	_
16	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
17	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	cracking	crack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	acl	_	_
19	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	24	case	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	goldfinch	goldfinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	chaffinch	chaffinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	greenfinch	greenfinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a finch | a small songbird |  |  |  | with a short strong shaped beak | tree rules |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **crack** | gerund | a short strong shaped beak *not said here* | seeds and a goldfinch and chaffinch or greenfinch |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location seed=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A goldfinch came to our bird feeder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x1:1
# text = A goldfinch came to our bird feeder.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goldfinch	goldfinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	feeder	feeder	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 | **come** | past | a goldfinch |  |  | our bird feeder |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to feeder=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finches crack seeds with their strong beaks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x2:1
# text = Finches crack seeds with their strong beaks.
1	Finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	crack	crack	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	beaks	beak	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crack** | present | Finches | seeds |  |  |  | with Finches's strong beaks | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent seed=Patient with beak=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Darwin studied the finches of the Galápagos Islands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x3:1
# text = Darwin studied the finches of the Galápagos Islands.
1	Darwin	Darwin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Galápagos	Galápagos	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Islands	Island	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Darwin | the finches of the Galápagos Islands |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finch=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chaffinch is one of the commonest birds in Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x4:1
# text = The chaffinch is one of the commonest birds in Britain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chaffinch	chaffinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	commonest	common	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the chaffinch | one |  |  |  | of the commonest birds in Britain | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each kind of finch had a beak shaped for its food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x5:1
# text = Each kind of finch had a beak shaped for its food.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	finch	finch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | each kind of finch | a beak |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beak=Patient |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  | a beak *not said here* |  |  |  | for kind's food | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent for food=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A group of goldfinches is called a charm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x6:1
# text = A group of goldfinches is called a charm.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	goldfinches	goldfinch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	charm	charm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But the field and wood sparrows, the larks and finches, blackbirds and green finches had picked up the millet long ago, and the girl could not find her way.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:finch:x7:1
# text = But the field and wood sparrows, the larks and finches, blackbirds and green finches had picked up the millet long ago, and the girl could not find her way.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sparrows	sparrow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	larks	lark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	blackbirds	blackbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
17	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	picked	pick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
19	up	up	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	millet	millet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
22	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	23	advmod	_	_
23	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nsubj	_	_
28	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	_
29	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	30	advmod	_	_
30	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
31	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	32	nmod:poss	_	_
32	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick up** | past · perfect · passive |  | the larks and finches and blackbirds and green finches |  |  |  | the field and wood sparrows *obl:unmarked*; ago *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **find** | could | the girl | girl's way |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

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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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