---
title: hippo — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hippo» in the school dictionary: A hippo, short for hippopotamus, is a huge, heavy African animal with a wide mouth, short legs and thick skin, which spends most of the day in rivers and lakes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hippo

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hippo, thick skin, Hippos, name · **What happens:** be, spend, eat, come out, graze, yawn · **To what, where:** huge heavy African animal, most, rivers, grass, water, huge teeth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hippo, short for hippopotamus, is a huge, heavy African animal with a wide mouth, short legs and thick skin, which spends most of the day in rivers and lakes.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:m1:1
# text = A hippo, short for hippopotamus, is a huge, heavy African animal with a wide mouth, short legs and thick skin, which spends most of the day in rivers and lakes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hippo	hippo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hippopotamus	hippopotamus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
10	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj	_	_
27	spends	spend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	acl:relcl	_	_
28	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	27	obj	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	_
32	in	in	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
33	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obl	_	_
34	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
35	lakes	lake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	33	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hippo | a huge heavy African animal |  |  |  | with a wide mouth and short legs and thick skin | tree rules |
| 2 | **spend** | present | thick skin | most of the day |  | rivers and lakes |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent most=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Hippos eat grass, coming out of the water at night to graze.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:m2:1
# text = Hippos eat grass, coming out of the water at night to graze.
1	Hippos	hippo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	graze	graze	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Hippos | grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |
| 2 | **come out** | gerund | Hippos *not said here* | the water |  |  | night |  | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient water=Result |
| 3 | **graze** | to-infinitive | Hippos *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dine-39.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hippo yawned and showed its huge teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x1:1
# text = The hippo yawned and showed its huge teeth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hippo	hippo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	yawned	yawn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **yawn** | past | the hippo |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **show** | past | the hippo *not said here* | hippo's huge teeth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent tooth=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hippos spend the day in the water to keep cool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x2:1
# text = Hippos spend the day in the water to keep cool.
1	Hippos	hippo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spend	spend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | present | Hippos |  |  | the water | day |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Hippos *not said here* |  |  |  |  | cool *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hippo can stay under water for several minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x3:1
# text = A hippo can stay under water for several minutes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hippo	hippo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | can | a hippo |  |  | water | minute |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under water=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hippos come out at night to eat grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x4:1
# text = Hippos come out at night to eat grass.
1	Hippos	hippo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come out** | present | Hippos |  |  |  | night | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive | Hippos *not said here* | grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The name «hippopotamus» means «river horse».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x5:1
# text = The name «hippopotamus» means «river horse».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	hippopotamus	hippopotamus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the name | river horse |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hippos may look slow, but they are very dangerous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x6:1
# text = Hippos may look slow, but they are very dangerous.
1	Hippos	hippo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | may | Hippos |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | Hippos *= hippo* |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby hippo is called a calf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hippo:x7:1
# text = A baby hippo is called a calf.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	hippo	hippo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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