---
title: lifespan — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lifespan» in the school dictionary: A lifespan is how long a person, animal or plant lives, or usually lives. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lifespan

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lifespan, animal, thing, average lifespan, mayfly, Tortoises · **What happens:** be, live, last, work, have, grow · **To what, where:** long person, 12 years, short lifespan, lifespan, thanks, 13 years

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lifespan is how long a person, animal or plant lives, or usually lives.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:m1:1
# text = A lifespan is how long a person, animal or plant lives, or usually lives.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	RB	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lifespan | a long person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | animal or plant | a long person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme person=Location |
| 3 | **live** | present | animal or plant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 lifespan is how long a thing lasts or works, like a battery or a machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:m2:1
# text = A lifespan is how long a thing lasts or works, like a battery or a machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lasts	last	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	battery	battery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a lifespan |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **last** | present | a thing |  |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **work** | present | a thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a battery or a machine | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The average lifespan of a dog is about 12 years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x1:1
# text = The average lifespan of a dog is about 12 years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	average	average	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	about	about	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 average lifespan of a dog | 12 years |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mayfly has a very short lifespan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x2:1
# text = A mayfly has a very short lifespan.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mayfly	mayfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tortoises can have a lifespan of over 100 years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x3:1
# text = Tortoises can have a lifespan of over 100 years.
1	Tortoises	tortoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	over	over	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | can | Tortoises | a lifespan of 100 years |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lifespan=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Human lifespans have grown longer thanks to medicine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x4:1
# text = Human lifespans have grown longer thanks to medicine.
1	Human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	lifespans	lifespan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present · perfect | Human lifespans | thanks to medicine |  |  |  | long *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This light bulb has a lifespan of 10,000 hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x5:1
# text = This light bulb has a lifespan of 10,000 hours.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bulb	bulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	10,000	10000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | this light bulb | a lifespan of 10,000 hours |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lifespan=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a cat lives 15 years and a hamster 2 years, the cat's lifespan is 13 years longer.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lifespan:x6:1
# text = If a cat lives 15 years and a hamster 2 years, the cat's lifespan is 13 years longer.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hamster	hamster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	lifespan	lifespan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
20	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a cat |  |  |  | year | long *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the cat's lifespan | 13 years |  |  |  |  | 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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