---
title: metamorphosis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «metamorphosis» in the school dictionary: Metamorphosis is a big change in body shape that some animals go through as they grow, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a tadpole becoming a frog. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# metamorphosis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Metamorphosis, that, animals, caterpillar, tadpole, someone · **What happens:** be, go through, grow, become, look, turn · **To what, where:** big change, body shape, butterfly, frog, complete change, metamorphosis

<!-- .vabout -->
«metamorphosis» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [metamorphosis in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/metamorphosis.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Metamorphosis is a big change in body shape that some animals go through as they grow, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a tadpole becoming a frog.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:m1:1
# text = Metamorphosis is a big change in body shape that some animals go through as they grow, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a tadpole becoming a frog.
1	Metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	through	through	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
21	becoming	become	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	acl	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	xcomp	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	tadpole	tadpole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
27	becoming	become	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	26	acl	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Metamorphosis | a big change |  | body shape |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go through** | present | that |  |  |  |  | through *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **grow** | present | animals *= animal* |  |  |  |  | like a caterpillar | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **become** | gerund | a caterpillar *not said here* | a butterfly or a tadpole |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **become** | gerund | a tadpole *not said here* | a frog |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 metamorphosis is any complete change in how someone or something looks or is.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:m2:1
# text = A metamorphosis is any complete change in how someone or something looks or is.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
5	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	_
12	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a metamorphosis | any complete change |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **be** | present | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A caterpillar turns into a butterfly by metamorphosis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x1:1
# text = A caterpillar turns into a butterfly by metamorphosis.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	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 | **turn** | present | a caterpillar |  |  |  |  | into a butterfly; by metamorphosis | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme into butterfly=Source by metamorphosis=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tadpoles go through metamorphosis to become frogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x2:1
# text = Tadpoles go through metamorphosis to become frogs.
1	Tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Tadpoles |  |  | metamorphosis |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through metamorphosis=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **become** | to-infinitive | Tadpoles *not said here* | frogs |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inside the chrysalis, metamorphosis takes place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x3:1
# text = Inside the chrysalis, metamorphosis takes place.
1	Inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	chrysalis	chrysalis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | metamorphosis | place |  | the chrysalis |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent place=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beetles also go through complete metamorphosis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x4:1
# text = Beetles also go through complete metamorphosis.
1	Beetles	beetle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Beetles |  |  | complete metamorphosis |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through metamorphosis=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the metamorphosis of our class caterpillars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x5:1
# text = We watched the metamorphosis of our class caterpillars.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	caterpillars	caterpillar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | the metamorphosis of our class caterpillars |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent metamorphosis=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x6:1
# text = Grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
1	Grasshoppers	grasshopper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	incomplete	incomplete	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old shed went through a metamorphosis into a playroom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x7:1
# text = The old shed went through a metamorphosis into a playroom.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	playroom	playroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the old shed |  |  | a metamorphosis |  | into a playroom | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme through metamorphosis=Initial\_Location into playroom=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Metamorphosis comes from Greek words meaning «change of shape».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x8:1
# text = Metamorphosis comes from Greek words meaning «change of shape».
1	Metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Metamorphosis |  |  | Greek words |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from word=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund | Greek words *not said here* | change of shape |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent change=Topic |
| 3 | **change** *in a quote* |  | shape |  |  |  |  |  | nom change «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In two years the building itself will put on a proper appearance, there will be a complete metamorphosis in beauty and improvement.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:metamorphosis:x9:1
# text = In two years the building itself will put on a proper appearance, there will be a complete metamorphosis in beauty and improvement.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	5	nmod:unmarked	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	appearance	appearance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	16	expl	_	_
15	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	metamorphosis	metamorphosis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	beauty	beauty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	improvement	improvement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | future | the building  building |  |  | a proper appearance | year |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on appearance=Destination |

<!-- 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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