---
title: limpet — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «limpet» in the school dictionary: A limpet is a small sea animal with a cone-shaped shell that clings very tightly to rocks. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# limpet

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** limpet, shaped shell, Someone, We, waves, Limpets · **What happens:** be, shape, cling, stick, like, not leave · **To what, where:** small sea animal, rocks, you, limpets, limpet, tiny plants · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A limpet is a small sea animal with a cone-shaped shell that clings very tightly to rocks.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:m1:1
# text = A limpet is a small sea animal with a cone-shaped shell that clings very tightly to rocks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	cone	cone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	clings	cling	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a limpet | a small sea animal |  |  |  | with a shaped shell | tree rules |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **cling** | present | a shaped shell | rocks |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location rock=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone who sticks to you like a limpet will not leave you alone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:m2:1
# text = Someone who sticks to you like a limpet will not leave you alone.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sticks	stick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick** | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent to you=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **like** | present | Someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **leave** | future | a limpet | you |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found limpets on the rocks at low tide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x1:1
# text = We found limpets on the rocks at low tide.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	limpets	limpet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tide	tide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | limpets |  | the rocks at low tide |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent limpet=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A limpet clings to the rock so the waves can't move it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x2:1
# text = A limpet clings to the rock so the waves can't move it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clings	cling	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
10	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cling** | present | a limpet |  |  |  |  | to the rock | vn cling-22.5 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme to rock=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **not** **move** | can | the waves | limpet |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Limpets eat tiny plants called algae.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x3:1
# text = Limpets eat tiny plants called algae.
1	Limpets	limpet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Limpets | tiny plants |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plant=Patient |
| 2 | **call** | participle | tiny plants *not said here* | algae |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother clung to Mum like a limpet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x4:1
# text = My little brother clung to Mum like a limpet.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	clung	cling	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cling** | participle |  | My little brother *not said here* |  |  |  | like a limpet | vn cling-22.5 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can't pull a limpet off a rock easily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x5:1
# text = You can't pull a limpet off a rock easily.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	pull	pull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **pull** | can | You | a limpet |  | a rock |  | easily *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent limpet=Theme off rock=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Limpet teeth are one of the strongest natural materials.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:limpet:x6:1
# text = Limpet teeth are one of the strongest natural materials.
1	Limpet	limpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
8	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	materials	material	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Limpet teeth | one |  |  |  | of the strongest natural materials | 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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