---
title: microbe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «microbe» in the school dictionary: A microbe is a living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus or some fungi like yeast. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# microbe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** microbe, microbes, most, many, us, you · **What happens:** be, see, cause, help, digest, make · **To what, where:** living thing, diseases, us, food, dead things, hands · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A microbe is a living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus or some fungi like yeast.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:m1:1
# text = A microbe is a living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus or some fungi like yeast.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	microbe	microbe	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	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	without	without	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	bacterium	bacterium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	24	det	_	_
24	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
25	like	like	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a microbe | a living thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | a microbe *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without a microscope and a bacterium and a virus or some fungi like yeast | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Some microbes cause diseases, but most are harmless and many are useful, helping us digest food, making bread rise and breaking down dead things.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:m2:1
# text = Some microbes cause diseases, but most are harmless and many are useful, helping us digest food, making bread rise and breaking down dead things.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	diseases	disease	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	helping	help	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
16	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	digest	digest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
21	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	rise	rise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	conj	_	_
25	down	down	ADP	RP	_	24	compound:prt	_	_
26	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | some microbes | diseases |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition disease=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | most |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | many |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **help** | gerund | most *not said here* | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 5 | **digest** | infinitive | us *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **make** | gerund | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **rise** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 8 | **break down** | gerund | us *not said here* | dead things |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Microbes are too small to see with your eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x1:1
# text = Microbes are too small to see with your eyes.
1	Microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Microbes |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | Microbes *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your eyes | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands to get rid of harmful microbes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x2:1
# text = Wash your hands to get rid of harmful microbes.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	rid	rid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | rid *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yeast is a microbe that makes bread rise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x3:1
# text = Yeast is a microbe that makes bread rise.
1	Yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	microbe	microbe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	rise	rise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Yeast | a microbe |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | a microbe |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **rise** | infinitive | a microbe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Microbes in the soil break down dead leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x4:1
# text = Microbes in the soil break down dead leaves.
1	Microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break down** | present | Microbes in the soil | dead leaves |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some microbes make us ill, but many help us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x5:1
# text = Some microbes make us ill, but many help us.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
9	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | some microbes | us |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset we=Product |
| 2 | **help** | present | many |  | us |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your stomach is full of helpful microbes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x6:1
# text = Your stomach is full of helpful microbes.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Your stomach |  |  |  |  | of helpful microbes; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Louis Pasteur showed that microbes spoil food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:microbe:x7:1
# text = Louis Pasteur showed that microbes spoil food.
1	Louis	Louis	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Pasteur	Pasteur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	spoil	spoil	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Louis |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spoil** | present | microbes | food |  |  |  |  | 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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