---
title: flipper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flipper» in the school dictionary: A flipper is a flat, wide limb that seals, turtles, penguins and dolphins use for swimming. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flipper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flipper, flat wide limb, dolphins, Flippers, people, seal · **What happens:** be, seal, use, wear, swim, wave · **To what, where:** flat wide limb, turtles, long rubber shoes, fins, feet, flipper

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flipper is a flat, wide limb that seals, turtles, penguins and dolphins use for swimming.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:m1:1
# text = A flipper is a flat, wide limb that seals, turtles, penguins and dolphins use for swimming.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flipper	flipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	limb	limb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	seals	seal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	turtles	turtle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flipper | a flat wide limb |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **seal** | present | a flat wide limb | turtles and penguins |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent turtle=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | present | dolphins |  |  |  |  | for swimming | vn eat-39.1 «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 -->
Flippers are long rubber shoes like fins that people wear on their feet to swim faster.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:m2:1
# text = Flippers are long rubber shoes like fins that people wear on their feet to swim faster.
1	Flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fins	fin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
16	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Flippers | long rubber shoes |  |  |  | like fins | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | present | people | fins |  | people's feet |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent that=Source |
| 3 | **swim** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The seal waved its flipper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x1:1
# text = The seal waved its flipper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seal	seal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waved	wave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|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	flipper	flipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wave** | past | the seal | seal's flipper |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flipper=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turtles use their front flippers to swim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x2:1
# text = Turtles use their front flippers to swim.
1	Turtles	turtle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Turtles | Turtles's front flippers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flipper=Patient |
| 2 | **swim** | to-infinitive | Turtles *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I wore flippers and a snorkel at the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x3:1
# text = I wore flippers and a snorkel at the beach.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	snorkel	snorkel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | I | flippers and a snorkel |  | the beach |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent flipper=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A penguin's wings work like flippers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x4:1
# text = A penguin's wings work like flippers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	penguin	penguin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | a penguin's wings |  |  |  |  | like flippers | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flippers help you swim faster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x5:1
# text = Flippers help you swim faster.
1	Flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Flippers | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **swim** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dolphin slapped the water with its flipper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x6:1
# text = The dolphin slapped the water with its flipper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slapped	slap	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	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	flipper	flipper	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 | **slap** | past | the dolphin | the water |  |  |  | with dolphin's flipper | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent water=Patient with flipper=Instrument |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't walk fast in flippers; you'll trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x7:1
# text = Don't walk fast in flippers; you'll trip.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	flippers	flipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	trip	trip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **walk** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | flippers |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in flipper=Trajectory |
| 2 | **trip** | future | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And all that time he never set flipper on dry ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flipper:x8:1
# text = And all that time he never set flipper on dry ground.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
2	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	set	set	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	flipper	flipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **set** | past | he | flipper |  | dry ground | time |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent flipper=Theme on ground=Destination |

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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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