---
title: flounder — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flounder» in the school dictionary: A flounder is a flat sea fish that lies on the seabed, with both eyes on one side of its head. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flounder

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flounder, flat sea fish, We, horse, I, teacher · **What happens:** be, lie, mean, struggle, move, splash · **To what, where:** flat sea fish, seabed, test, sandy seabed, deep snow, muddy field · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flounder is a flat sea fish that lies on the seabed, with both eyes on one side of its head.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:m1:1
# text = A flounder is a flat sea fish that lies on the seabed, with both eyes on one side of its head.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lies	lie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	seabed	seabed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flounder | a flat sea fish and both eyes on one side of flounder's head |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lie** | present | a flat sea fish and both eyes on one side of flounder's head |  |  | the seabed |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on seabed=Location |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flounder means to struggle to move, splashing and stumbling, as in deep mud, snow or water.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:m2:1
# text = To flounder means to struggle to move, splashing and stumbling, as in deep mud, snow or water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	struggle	struggle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	splashing	splash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	stumbling	stumble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | flounder |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **struggle** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as deep mud and snow or water | tree rules |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive | flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **splash** | gerund | flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **stumble** | gerund | flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flounder can also mean to struggle and not know what to say or do, as in floundering in a test.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:m3:1
# text = To flounder can also mean to struggle and not know what to say or do, as in floundering in a test.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	struggle	struggle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	floundering	flounder	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | to flounder | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **struggle** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **know** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 5 | **do** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **flounder** | gerund |  |  |  | a test |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flounder lay hidden on the sandy seabed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x1:1
# text = The flounder lay hidden on the sandy seabed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sandy	sandy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	seabed	seabed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | the flounder |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hide** | participle | the flounder *not said here* |  |  | the sandy seabed |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on seabed=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We floundered through the deep snow to the bus stop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x2:1
# text = We floundered through the deep snow to the bus stop.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	floundered	flounder	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flounder** | past | We |  |  | the deep snow |  | to the bus stop | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horse floundered in the muddy field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x3:1
# text = The horse floundered in the muddy field.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	floundered	flounder	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	field	field	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 | **flounder** | past | the horse |  |  | the muddy field |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I floundered when the teacher asked me a question I hadn't heard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x4:1
# text = I floundered when the teacher asked me a question I hadn't heard.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	floundered	flounder	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	heard	hear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flounder** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the teacher | a question | me |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **hear** | past · perfect | I | a question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer question=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A young flounder has eyes on both sides, but one eye moves as it grows.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x5:1
# text = A young flounder has eyes on both sides, but one eye moves as it grows.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a young flounder | eyes |  | both sides |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |
| 2 | **move** | present | one eye |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **grow** | present | flounder |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company floundered after it lost its biggest customer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x6:1
# text = The company floundered after it lost its biggest customer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	floundered	flounder	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flounder** | past | the company |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | company | company's biggest customer |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent customer=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flounder said to him, ‘Listen, fisherman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flounder:x7:1
# text = The flounder said to him, ‘Listen, fisherman.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	fisherman	fisherman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the flounder |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient S-Quote»: agent=Agent to he=Recipient |
| 2 | **listen** | infinitive | the flounder *not said here* | fisherman |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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