---
title: mermaid — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mermaid» in the school dictionary: A mermaid is an imaginary sea creature with the head and body of a woman and the tail of a fish. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mermaid

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mermaid, merman, We, Sailors, mermaids, She · **What happens:** be, flick, read, tell, sing, want · **To what, where:** imaginary sea creature, male version, shiny tail, Little Mermaid, class, stories · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mermaid is an imaginary sea creature with the head and body of a woman and the tail of a fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:m1:1
# text = A mermaid is an imaginary sea creature with the head and body of a woman and the tail of a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	imaginary	imaginary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mermaid | a imaginary sea creature and the tail of a fish |  |  |  | with the head of a woman and body | 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 -->
A merman is the male version.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:m2:1
# text = A merman is the male version.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merman	merman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	version	version	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 merman | the male version |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mermaid flicked her shiny tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x1:1
# text = The mermaid flicked her shiny tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flicked	flick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flick** | past | the mermaid | mermaid's shiny tail |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We read «The Little Mermaid» in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x2:1
# text = We read «The Little Mermaid» in class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Little	Little	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Mermaid	Mermaid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | We | the Little Mermaid |  | class |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mermaid=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors told stories of mermaids singing on rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x3:1
# text = Sailors told stories of mermaids singing on rocks.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	mermaids	mermaid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Sailors | stories of mermaids |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | mermaids *not said here* |  |  | rocks |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on rock=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wants a mermaid cake for her birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x4:1
# text = She wants a mermaid cake for her birthday.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | She | a mermaid cake |  |  |  | for her birthday | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cake=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A manatee was once mistaken for a mermaid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x5:1
# text = A manatee was once mistaken for a mermaid.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	manatee	manatee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	_
5	mistaken	mistake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistake** | past · passive |  | a manatee |  |  |  | for a mermaid; once *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mermaid swam down to the coral castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x6:1
# text = The mermaid swam down to the coral castle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	coral	coral	NOUN	NN	_	8	compound	_	_
8	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim down** | past | the mermaid |  |  | the coral castle |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to castle=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Oh,” cried Wendy, “to see a mermaid!”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mermaid:x7:1
# text = “Oh,” cried Wendy, “to see a mermaid!”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Wendy	Wendy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mermaid	mermaid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | Wendy |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **see** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Wendy *not said here* | a mermaid |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mermaid=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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