---
title: gopher — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gopher» in the school dictionary: A small North American burrowing animal with large cheek pouches, which digs tunnels and eats plant roots (pocket gopher). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gopher

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small North American burrowing animal, person, Gophers, you, film studio, mascot · **What happens:** burrow, dig, eat, use, run, go · **To what, where:** tunnels, plant roots, name, small errands, food, pouches · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small North American burrowing animal with large cheek pouches, which digs tunnels and eats plant roots (pocket gopher).

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:m1:1
# text = A small North American burrowing animal with large cheek pouches, which digs tunnels and eats plant roots (pocket gopher).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
4	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	burrowing	burrow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	cheek	cheek	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	pouches	pouch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	digs	dig	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
17	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	gopher	gopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burrow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dig** | present | a small North American burrowing animal with large cheek pouches | tunnels |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tunnel=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | present | a small North American burrowing animal with large cheek pouches *not said here* | plant roots |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent root=Patient |

<!-- .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: US, Canada — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A name also used for ground squirrels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:m2:1
# text = A name also used for ground squirrels.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a name *not said here* |  |  |  | for ground squirrels | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who runs small errands for others («go for» this, «go for» that), also spelled gofer.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:m3:1
# text = A person who runs small errands for others («go for» this, «go for» that), also spelled gofer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	errands	errand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
20	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	also	also	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	spelled	spell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	25	amod	_	_
25	gofer	gofer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | a person and spelled gofer | small errands |  |  |  | for others | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent errand=Product for other=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **go** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for this | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for this=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **go** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for that | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for that=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **spell** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gopher dug tunnels all over the farmer's field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x1:1
# text = A gopher dug tunnels all over the farmer's field.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	gopher	gopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	dug	dug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	tunnels	tunnel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gophers carry food in pouches in their cheeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x2:1
# text = Gophers carry food in pouches in their cheeks.
1	Gophers	gopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pouches	pouch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	cheeks	cheek	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | Gophers | food |  | pouches |  | in Gophers's cheeks | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent food=Value in pouch=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch out for gopher holes when you run on the prairie.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x3:1
# text = Watch out for gopher holes when you run on the prairie.
1	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	gopher	gopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	prairie	prairie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch out** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for gopher holes | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for hole=Theme |
| 2 | **run** | present | you |  |  | the prairie |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on prairie=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film studio hired a gopher to fetch coffee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x4:1
# text = The film studio hired a gopher to fetch coffee.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	studio	studio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hired	hire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	gopher	gopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fetch	fetch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hire** | past | the film studio | a gopher |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gopher=Theme |
| 2 | **fetch** | to-infinitive | the film studio *not said here* | coffee |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coffee=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Go language's mascot is a cute blue gopher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x5:1
# text = The Go language's mascot is a cute blue gopher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Go	Go	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	mascot	mascot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	cute	cute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	gopher	gopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Go language's mascot | a cute blue gopher |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Canada, people call ground squirrels gophers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gopher:x6:1
# text = In Canada, people call ground squirrels gophers.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	gophers	gopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | people | squirrels gophers |  | Canada |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent gopher=Recipient |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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