---
title: fry — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fry» in the school dictionary: To fry food is to cook it in hot oil or fat in a pan. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fry

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fries, long thin pieces, Fry, young fish, Small fry, you · **What happens:** fry, be, cook, call, hatch, mean · **To what, where:** food, hot oil, long thin pieces, potato, chips, UK · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fry» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [fry in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fry.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To fry food is to cook it in hot oil or fat in a pan.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:m1:1
# text = To fry food is to cook it in hot oil or fat in a pan.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	fry	fry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cook	cook	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pan	pan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | to-infinitive |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | hot oil or fat |  | in a pan; cook *property* | 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 -->
Fries (plural) are long thin pieces of potato cooked in oil, called «chips» in the UK and Ireland.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:m2:1
# text = Fries (plural) are long thin pieces of potato cooked in oil, called «chips» in the UK and Ireland.
1	Fries	fry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fries | long thin pieces |  |  |  | of potato | tree rules |
| 2 | **cook** | participle |  | potato *not said here* |  |  |  | in oil | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V PP.result PP.instrument»: agent=Patient in oil=Instrument |
| 3 | **call** | participle | long thin pieces *not said here* | chips |  | the UK and Ireland |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fry are very young fish just hatched.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:m3:1
# text = Fry are very young fish just hatched.
1	Fry	fry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	hatched	hatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fry | young fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hatch** | past | young fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.patient V PP.product»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Small fry" can also mean unimportant people or things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:m4:1
# text = "Small fry" can also mean unimportant people or things.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fry	fry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Small fry | unimportant people or things |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you fry an egg for me?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x1:1
# text = Can you fry an egg for me?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fry	fry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | can | you | a egg |  |  |  | for me | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent egg=Patient for i=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum fried the fish in a little oil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x2:1
# text = Mum fried the fish in a little oil.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fried	fry	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	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | past | Mum | the fish |  |  |  | in a little oil | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent fish=Patient in oil=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'd like a burger and fries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x3:1
# text = I'd like a burger and fries.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	burger	burger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fries	fry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | would | I | a burger and fries |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot burger=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fry swam in the shallow water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x4:1
# text = The fry swam in the shallow water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fry	fry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	water	water	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 | **swim** | past | the fry |  |  | the shallow water |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in water=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's make a stir-fry with vegetables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x5:1
# text = Let's make a stir-fry with vegetables.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	stir	stir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	fry	fry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	vegetables	vegetable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | a stir fry |  |  |  | with vegetables | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fry=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fry the onions until they are soft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x6:1
# text = Fry the onions until they are soft.
1	Fry	fry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	onions	onion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | imperative | you *not said here* | the onions |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent onion=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | onions *= onion* |  |  |  |  | soft *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the UK, fries are usually called chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x7:1
# text = In the UK, fries are usually called chips.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	fries	fry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't worry about him — he's just small fry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x8:1
# text = Don't worry about him — he's just small fry.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	worry	worry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	fry	fry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **worry** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about him *= he* | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus what S»: agent=Experiencer about he=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | he | small fry |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No small fry for me," he said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fry:x9:1
# text = "No small fry for me," he said.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	fry	fry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	ccomp	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: 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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