---
title: invertebrate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «invertebrate» in the school dictionary: An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone, such as an insect, spider, worm, snail, jellyfish or crab. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# invertebrate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** invertebrate, worm, Insects, We, Most animals, crab · **What happens:** be, mean, have, go, call · **To what, where:** animal, backbone, invertebrate, invertebrates, hunt, exoskeleton · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone, such as an insect, spider, worm, snail, jellyfish or crab.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:m1:1
# text = An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone, such as an insect, spider, worm, snail, jellyfish or crab.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invertebrate	invertebrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	backbone	backbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	jellyfish	jellyfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a invertebrate | a animal and a insect and spider and worm and snail and jellyfish or crab |  |  |  | without a backbone | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Invertebrate (adjective) means having no backbone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:m2:1
# text = Invertebrate (adjective) means having no backbone.
1	Invertebrate	invertebrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	backbone	backbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Invertebrate |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** *not said to happen* | gerund | Invertebrate *not said here* | no backbone |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backbone=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A worm is an invertebrate because it has no backbone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x1:1
# text = A worm is an invertebrate because it has no backbone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	invertebrate	invertebrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	backbone	backbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a worm | a invertebrate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | worm | no backbone |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backbone=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insects, spiders and snails are invertebrates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x2:1
# text = Insects, spiders and snails are invertebrates.
1	Insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	snails	snail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	invertebrates	invertebrate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Insects and spiders and snails | invertebrates |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went on a hunt for invertebrates under logs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x3:1
# text = We went on a hunt for invertebrates under logs.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hunt	hunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	invertebrates	invertebrate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	logs	log	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We |  |  | a hunt |  | for invertebrates; under logs | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent on hunt=Location for invertebrate=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most animals on Earth are invertebrates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x4:1
# text = Most animals on Earth are invertebrates.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	invertebrates	invertebrate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Most animals on Earth | invertebrates |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crab is an invertebrate with a hard shell called an exoskeleton.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x5:1
# text = A crab is an invertebrate with a hard shell called an exoskeleton.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	invertebrate	invertebrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	exoskeleton	exoskeleton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crab | a invertebrate |  |  |  | with a hard shell | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a hard shell *not said here* | a exoskeleton |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent exoskeleton=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An octopus is a clever invertebrate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invertebrate:x6:1
# text = An octopus is a clever invertebrate.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	octopus	octopus	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	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	invertebrate	invertebrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a octopus | a clever invertebrate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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