---
title: hen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hen» in the school dictionary: A hen is a female chicken, a farm bird that lays eggs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hen, farm bird, hen party, woman, farmer, Hens · **What happens:** be, lay, wed, have, sit, keep · **To what, where:** female chicken, eggs, female, party, 1 egg, 12 hens · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«hen» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [hen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hen is a female chicken, a farm bird that lays eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:m1:1
# text = A hen is a female chicken, a farm bird that lays eggs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	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	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hen | a female chicken and a farm bird |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lay** | present | a farm bird | eggs |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Result |

<!-- .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 -->
A hen can also be the female of some other birds, like a hen pheasant.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:m2:1
# text = A hen can also be the female of some other birds, like a hen pheasant.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	pheasant	pheasant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a hen | the female and a hen pheasant |  |  |  | of some other birds | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hen party, or hen night, is a party for a woman before her wedding.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:m3:1
# text = A hen party, or hen night, is a party for a woman before her wedding.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	before	before	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hen party | a party |  |  | before woman's wedding | for a woman | tree rules |
| 2 | **wed** |  | woman |  |  |  |  |  | nom wedding «event transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each hen lays 1 egg a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x1:1
# text = Each hen lays 1 egg a day.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | each hen | 1 egg |  |  | day |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer has 12 hens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x2:1
# text = The farmer has 12 hens.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	hens	hen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the farmer | 12 hens |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hen=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many eggs in a week?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x3:1
# text = How many eggs in a week?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hens and cows have 40 legs in all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x4:1
# text = Hens and cows have 40 legs in all.
1	Hens	hen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Hens and cows | 40 legs |  | all |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hen sat on her eggs to keep them warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x5:1
# text = The hen sat on her eggs to keep them warm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | the hen |  |  | hen's eggs |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on egg=Location |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | the hen *not said here* | eggs *= egg* |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We collected eggs from the hen house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x6:1
# text = We collected eggs from the hen house.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	house	house	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 | **collect** | past | We | eggs |  | the hen house |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent egg=Theme from house=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little red hen asked who would help her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x7:1
# text = The little red hen asked who would help her.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
9	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the little red hen |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **help** | would |  |  | hen |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hen has two legs and two wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x8:1
# text = A hen has two legs and two wings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a hen | two legs and two wings |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
THE HEN THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hen:x9:1
# text = THE HEN THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS.
1	THE	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	HEN	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	THAT	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	LAYS	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	GOLDEN	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	EGGS	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | the HEN | GOLDEN EGGS |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Result |

<!-- 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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