---
title: harpoon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «harpoon» in the school dictionary: A harpoon is a long spear with a sharp, hooked point, often tied to a rope, used for catching whales, big fish or seals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# harpoon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** harpoon, hunter, Old whaling ships, Inuit, sailor, most countries · **What happens:** be, hook, tie, use, harpoon, catch · **To what, where:** long spear, something, it, harpoon, seal, harpoons

<!-- .vabout -->
«harpoon» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [harpoon in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/harpoon.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A harpoon is a long spear with a sharp, hooked point, often tied to a rope, used for catching whales, big fish or seals.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:m1:1
# text = A harpoon is a long spear with a sharp, hooked point, often tied to a rope, used for catching whales, big fish or seals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	hooked	hook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	_
12	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	tied	tie	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	catching	catching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	seals	seal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a harpoon | a long spear |  |  |  | with a sharp hooked point | tree rules |
| 2 | **hook** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn coil-9.6-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **tie** | participle |  | a long spear *not said here* |  |  |  | to a rope; often *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle PP»: agent=Patient to rope=Co-Patient |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for catching whales and big fish or seals | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To harpoon something is to hit or catch it with a harpoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:m2:1
# text = To harpoon something is to hit or catch it with a harpoon.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	harpoon	harpoon	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	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	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **harpoon** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hit *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **catch** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | with a harpoon | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hunter threw his harpoon at the seal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x1:1
# text = The hunter threw his harpoon at the seal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hunter	hunter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	seal	seal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | the hunter | hunter's harpoon |  | the seal |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent harpoon=Theme at seal=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old whaling ships carried harpoons and long ropes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x2:1
# text = Old whaling ships carried harpoons and long ropes.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	whaling	whaling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ships	ship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	harpoons	harpoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ropes	rope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | Old whaling ships | harpoons and long ropes |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harpoon=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Inuit carved harpoon points from bone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x3:1
# text = The Inuit carved harpoon points from bone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Inuit	Inuit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carved	carve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carve** | past | the Inuit | harpoon points |  | bone |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent point=Product from bone=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sailor harpooned a huge fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x4:1
# text = The sailor harpooned a huge fish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailor	sailor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	harpooned	harpoon	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **harpoon** | past | the sailor | a huge fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today most countries protect whales from harpoons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x5:1
# text = Today most countries protect whales from harpoons.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	harpoons	harpoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | most countries |  | whales |  | today | from harpoons | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent whale=Beneficiary from harpoon=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the museum we saw a rusty harpoon gun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x6:1
# text = In the museum we saw a rusty harpoon gun.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	rusty	rusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | we | a rusty harpoon gun |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer gun=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The harpoon was flung into the breast of the walrus, so that a smoking stream of blood spurted forth like a fountain, and besprinkled the ice.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harpoon:x7:1
# text = The harpoon was flung into the breast of the walrus, so that a smoking stream of blood spurted forth like a fountain, and besprinkled the ice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	harpoon	harpoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	flung	fling	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	breast	breast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	walrus	walrus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	spurted	spurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
20	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	fountain	fountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	besprinkled	besprinkle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fling** | past · passive |  | the harpoon |  | the breast of the walrus |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: subject=Theme into breast=Destination |
| 2 | **spurt** | participle |  | a smoking stream of blood *not said here* |  |  |  | like a fountain; forth *property* | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 3 | **besprinkle** | participle |  | the ice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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