---
title: gherkin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gherkin» in the school dictionary: A small cucumber kept in vinegar, eaten as a pickle; in the USA and Canada usually called a «pickle». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gherkin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small cucumber, I, Mum, Gherkins, We, our · **What happens:** keep, eat, call, grow, shape, take · **To what, where:** small cucumber, vinegar, pickle, gherkin, burger, gherkins · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small cucumber kept in vinegar, eaten as a pickle; in the USA and Canada usually called a «pickle».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:m1:1
# text = A small cucumber kept in vinegar, eaten as a pickle; in the USA and Canada usually called a «pickle».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cucumber	cucumber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	vinegar	vinegar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pickle	pickle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	pickle	pickle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | participle |  | a small cucumber in the USA and Canada *not said here* |  | vinegar |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in vinegar=Location |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  | vinegar *not said here* |  |  |  | as a pickle | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **call** | past | a small cucumber in the USA and Canada | a pickle |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent pickle=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
The small cucumber itself, grown for pickling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:m2:1
# text = The small cucumber itself, grown for pickling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cucumber	cucumber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	3	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	pickling	pickling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | participle |  | the small cucumber  cucumber *not said here* |  |  |  | for pickling | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The Gherkin», a famous pickle-shaped tower in London.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:m3:1
# text = «The Gherkin», a famous pickle-shaped tower in London.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Gherkin	Gherkin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
7	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
8	pickle	pickle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I always take the gherkin out of my burger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x1:1
# text = I always take the gherkin out of my burger.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gherkin	gherkin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	burger	burger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | I | the gherkin |  | my burger |  | always *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent gherkin=Theme out burger=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum chopped gherkins into the potato salad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x2:1
# text = Mum chopped gherkins into the potato salad.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	chopped	chop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gherkins	gherkin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	salad	salad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chop** | past | Mum | gherkins |  |  |  | into the potato salad *result* | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent gherkin=Patient into salad=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gherkins taste sour and crunchy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x3:1
# text = Gherkins taste sour and crunchy.
1	Gherkins	gherkin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	taste	taste	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sour	sour	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	crunchy	crunchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **taste** | present | Gherkins |  |  |  |  | sour *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In America, a gherkin is just called a pickle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x4:1
# text = In America, a gherkin is just called a pickle.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gherkin	gherkin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pickle	pickle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw the Gherkin building on our trip to London.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x5:1
# text = We saw the Gherkin building on our trip to London.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Gherkin	Gherkin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | the Gherkin building |  | our trip to London |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer building=Stimulus |
| 2 | **trip** |  | our |  |  |  |  | to London | nom trip «act transitive»: poss=agent to=obl |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jar of gherkins stood on the picnic table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x6:1
# text = A jar of gherkins stood on the picnic table.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	gherkins	gherkin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	picnic	picnic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	table	table	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 | **stand** | past | a jar of gherkins |  |  | the picnic table |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on table=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa grows gherkins in his vegetable patch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gherkin:x7:1
# text = Grandpa grows gherkins in his vegetable patch.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gherkins	gherkin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	vegetable	vegetable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	patch	patch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Grandpa | gherkins |  | Grandpa's vegetable patch |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location gherkin=Theme |

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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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