---
title: gnat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gnat» in the school dictionary: A gnat is a tiny flying insect, a bit like a very small fly, often seen in clouds near water; some kinds bite. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gnat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** gnat, kinds, cloud, gnats, Swallows, Jesus · **What happens:** fly, be, see, bite, hover, cloud · **To what, where:** tiny flying insect, small fly, clouds, pond, gnats, I · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gnat is a tiny flying insect, a bit like a very small fly, often seen in clouds near water; some kinds bite.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:m1:1
# text = A gnat is a tiny flying insect, a bit like a very small fly, often seen in clouds near water; some kinds bite.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gnat	gnat	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	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	very	very	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	fly	fly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
21	near	near	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	25	det	_	_
25	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	nsubj	_	_
26	bite	bite	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a gnat | a tiny flying insect |  |  |  | a bit like a small fly *obl:unmarked* | tree rules |
| 3 | **see** | participle |  | a small fly *not said here* |  | clouds near water |  | often *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **bite** | present | some kinds |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: 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 -->
A cloud of gnats hovered over the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x1:1
# text = A cloud of gnats hovered over the pond.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	gnats	gnat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	hovered	hover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hover** | past | a cloud of gnats |  |  | the pond |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over pond=Location |
| 2 | **cloud** |  |  | gnats |  |  |  |  | nom cloud «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got bitten by gnats on the camping trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x2:1
# text = I got bitten by gnats on the camping trip.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	bitten	bite	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	gnats	gnat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	camping	camping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	trip	trip	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 | **bite** | past · passive | gnats | I |  | the camping trip |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent subject=Patient on trip=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swallows swoop to catch gnats in the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x3:1
# text = Swallows swoop to catch gnats in the air.
1	Swallows	swallow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swoop	swoop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	gnats	gnat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	air	air	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 | **swoop** | present | Swallows |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | Swallows *not said here* | gnats |  | the air |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gnat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gnat was so small it got through the window net.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x4:1
# text = The gnat was so small it got through the window net.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gnat	gnat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the gnat |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | past | gnat |  |  | the window net |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme through net=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Jesus speaks of people who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x5:1
# text = In the Bible, Jesus speaks of people who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	strain	strain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	gnat	gnat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	camel	camel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | Jesus |  |  | the Bible |  | of people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **strain out** | present | people | a gnat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent gnat=Source |
| 3 | **swallow** | infinitive | people *not said here* | a camel |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent camel=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little gnat kept buzzing round my ear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x6:1
# text = The little gnat kept buzzing round my ear.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	gnat	gnat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	buzzing	buzz	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	round	round	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the little gnat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buzz** | gerund | the little gnat *not said here* |  |  |  |  | round my ear | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gnats and flies grew blithe and merry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnat:x7:1
# text = The gnats and flies grew blithe and merry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gnats	gnat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	blithe	blithe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	merry	merry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | the gnats and flies |  |  |  |  | blithe *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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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