---
title: flock — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flock» in the school dictionary: A flock is a group of birds or sheep together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flock

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flock, people, 8 birds, 4 flocks, many birds, shepherd · **What happens:** be, flock, go, graze, fly away, fly · **To what, where:** group, big crowd, large numbers, 30 sheep, flock

<!-- .vabout -->
«flock» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [flock in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flock.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flock is a group of birds or sheep together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:m1:1
# text = A flock is a group of birds or sheep together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flock	flock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flock | a group |  |  |  | of birds or sheep | tree rules |

<!-- .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 flock is a big crowd of people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:m2:1
# text = A flock is a big crowd of people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flock	flock	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	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flock | a big crowd |  |  |  | of people | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flock is to come together or go somewhere in large numbers: «people flocked to the beach».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:m3:1
# text = To flock is to come together or go somewhere in large numbers: «people flocked to the beach».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	flock	flock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	8	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	flocked	flock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flock** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | come, together *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  | large numbers |  | somewhere *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in number=Location |
| 4 | **flock** *in a quote* | past | people |  |  |  |  | to the beach | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flock of 30 sheep grazed on the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x1:1
# text = A flock of 30 sheep grazed on the hill.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flock	flock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	grazed	graze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **graze** | participle |  | 30 sheep *not said here* |  |  |  | on the hill | vn dine-39.5 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on hill=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
8 birds flew away from the flock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x2:1
# text = 8 birds flew away from the flock.
1	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	away	away	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flock	flock	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 | **fly away** | past | 8 birds |  |  | the flock |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from flock=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 4 flocks with 12 geese each.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x3:1
# text = There are 4 flocks with 12 geese each.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	flocks	flock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	geese	goose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 4 flocks with 12 geese |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many birds are in the flock now?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x4:1
# text = How many birds are in the flock now?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flock	flock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | many birds |  |  | the flock | now |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flock of geese flew south for the winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x5:1
# text = A flock of geese flew south for the winter.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flock	flock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	geese	goose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	south	south	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | a flock of geese |  |  |  | winter | south *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shepherd counted his flock every evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x6:1
# text = The shepherd counted his flock every evening.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counted	count	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	flock	flock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | the shepherd | shepherd's flock |  |  | evening |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flock=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crowds flocked to the beach on the hot day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x7:1
# text = Crowds flocked to the beach on the hot day.
1	Crowds	crowd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flocked	flock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	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 | **flock** | past | Crowds |  |  |  | day | to the beach | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds of a feather flock together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flock:x8:1
# text = Birds of a feather flock together.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	flock	flock	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flock together** | infinitive | Birds of a feather |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V NP.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.

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