---
title: gerbil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gerbil» in the school dictionary: A small furry rodent with a long tail and strong back legs, from the deserts of Africa and Asia, often kept as a pet. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gerbil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Gerbils, gerbil, you · **What happens:** keep, call, love, dig, drink, come · **To what, where:** class gerbil, tunnels, deep bedding, little water, desert, pairs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«gerbil» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 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: [gerbil in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gerbil.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small furry rodent with a long tail and strong back legs, from the deserts of Africa and Asia, often kept as a pet.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:m1:1
# text = A small furry rodent with a long tail and strong back legs, from the deserts of Africa and Asia, often kept as a pet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	furry	furry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rodent	rodent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	deserts	desert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
24	as	as	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a pet; often *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class gerbil is called Nibbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x1:1
# text = Our class gerbil is called Nibbles.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	gerbil	gerbil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	Nibbles	nibble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gerbils love to dig tunnels in deep bedding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x2:1
# text = Gerbils love to dig tunnels in deep bedding.
1	Gerbils	gerbil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bedding	bedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Gerbils |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **dig** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Gerbils *not said here* | tunnels |  | deep bedding |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent tunnel=Theme in bedding=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My gerbil drinks very little water because it comes from the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x3:1
# text = My gerbil drinks very little water because it comes from the desert.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	gerbil	gerbil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drinks	drink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drink** | present | My gerbil | little water |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | present | gerbil |  |  | the desert |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from desert=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gerbils are happier living in pairs than alone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x4:1
# text = Gerbils are happier living in pairs than alone.
1	Gerbils	gerbil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	happier	happy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	living	live	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	alone	alone	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Gerbils |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | gerund | Gerbils *not said here* |  |  | pairs than alone |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pair=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please close the cage so the gerbil doesn't escape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x5:1
# text = Please close the cage so the gerbil doesn't escape.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	close	close	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cage	cage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gerbil	gerbil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cage |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cage=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **escape** | present · do-support | the gerbil |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gerbil stood up on its back legs to sniff the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gerbil:x6:1
# text = The gerbil stood up on its back legs to sniff the air.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gerbil	gerbil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | past | the gerbil |  |  | gerbil's back legs |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on leg=Location |
| 2 | **sniff** | to-infinitive | the gerbil *not said here* | the air |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Theme |

<!-- 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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