---
title: firefly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «firefly» in the school dictionary: A small flying beetle whose tail glows with a soft light at night. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# firefly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small flying beetle, name, insect, We, fireflies, firefly · **What happens:** fly, glow, use, make, light, watch · **To what, where:** own light, fireflies, meadow, light, patterns, partner

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small flying beetle whose tail glows with a soft light at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:m1:1
# text = A small flying beetle whose tail glows with a soft light at night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	beetle	beetle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	glows	glow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **glow** | present | a small flying beetle |  |  |  | night | with a soft light | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with light=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 -->
Another name some people use for a glow-worm or any insect that makes its own light.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:m2:1
# text = Another name some people use for a glow-worm or any insect that makes its own light.
1	Another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	glow	glow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
13	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | another name |  |  |  |  | for a glow worm or any insect | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | any insect | name's own light |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset light=Product |
| 3 | **light** |  | name |  |  |  |  |  | nom light «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched fireflies blinking over the meadow on a warm summer night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x1:1
# text = We watched fireflies blinking over the meadow on a warm summer night.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	blinking	blink	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	meadow	meadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | fireflies |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent firefly=Theme |
| 2 | **blink** | gerund | fireflies *not said here* |  |  | the meadow | night |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over meadow=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A firefly makes light without getting hot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x2:1
# text = A firefly makes light without getting hot.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefly	firefly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a firefly | light |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset light=Product |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | a firefly *not said here* |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fireflies flash in patterns to find a partner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x3:1
# text = Fireflies flash in patterns to find a partner.
1	Fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flash	flash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	patterns	pattern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	partner	partner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flash** | present | Fireflies |  |  | patterns |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pattern=Location |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Fireflies *not said here* | a partner |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent partner=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother caught a firefly in his hands and then let it go.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x4:1
# text = My little brother caught a firefly in his hands and then let it go.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	firefly	firefly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | My little brother | a firefly |  | brother's hands |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent firefly=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | My little brother *not said here* | firefly |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | firefly *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fireflies are not flies at all; they are beetles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x5:1
# text = Fireflies are not flies at all; they are beetles.
1	Fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	beetles	beetle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Fireflies | flies and beetles |  | all |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Fireflies *= firefly* | beetles |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the lost girl followed the fireflies home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x6:1
# text = In the story, the lost girl followed the fireflies home.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	home	home	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **follow** | past | the lost girl | the fireflies |  | the story |  | home *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent firefly=Theme in story=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you put fireflies in a jar, make holes in the lid and free them soon.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x7:1
# text = If you put fireflies in a jar, make holes in the lid and free them soon.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
4	fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | fireflies |  | a jar |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent firefly=Theme in jar=Destination |
| 2 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | holes |  | the lid |  | soon *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hole=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great suns spurted fire about, splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firefly:x8:1
# text = Great suns spurted fire about, splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	suns	sun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
3	spurted	spurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	splendid	splendid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fireflies	firefly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	reflected	reflect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
21	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
23	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
25	beneath	beneath	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spurt** | participle | Great suns *not said here* | fire |  |  |  | about *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent fire=Theme |
| 2 | **fly** | past | Great suns |  |  |  |  | into the blue air *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into air=Result |
| 3 | **reflect** | past · passive |  | everything |  | the clear calm sea |  | beneath *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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