---
title: moa — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «moa» in the school dictionary: A moa was a very large flightless bird that lived only in New Zealand; the tallest kinds stood taller than a person when reaching up. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# moa

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** moa, large flightless bird, tallest kinds, they, people, eagle · **What happens:** be, live, stand, reach up, die out, arrive · **To what, where:** large flightless bird, New Zealand, giant bird, wings, all, moa

<!-- .vabout -->
«moa» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [moa in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/moa.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A moa was a very large flightless bird that lived only in New Zealand; the tallest kinds stood taller than a person when reaching up.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:m1:1
# text = A moa was a very large flightless bird that lived only in New Zealand; the tallest kinds stood taller than a person when reaching up.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	flat	_	_
14	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	tallest	tall	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	18	amod	_	_
18	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
20	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	19	xcomp	_	_
21	than	than	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
24	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	25	advmod	_	_
25	reaching	reach	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	_
26	up	up	ADP	RP	_	25	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a moa | a large flightless bird |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | past | a large flightless bird |  |  | New Zealand |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in zealand=Location |
| 3 | **stand** | past | the tallest kinds |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **reach up** | gerund | the tallest kinds *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
All moa are now extinct; they died out a few hundred years after people first arrived in New Zealand.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:m2:1
# text = All moa are now extinct; they died out a few hundred years after people first arrived in New Zealand.
1	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
5	extinct	extinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
11	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
14	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	17	advmod	_	_
17	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	flat	_	_
20	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | all moa |  |  |  | now | extinct *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **die out** | past | they |  |  |  | year |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **arrive** | past | people |  |  | New Zealand |  | first *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The moa was a giant bird from New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x1:1
# text = The moa was a giant bird from New Zealand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	_
9	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the moa | a giant bird |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moa could not fly because they had no wings at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x2:1
# text = Moa could not fly because they had no wings at all.
1	Moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **fly** | could | Moa |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | past | they | no wings |  | all |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Haast's eagle hunted moa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x3:1
# text = Haast's eagle hunted moa.
1	Haast	Haast	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hunted	hunt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | past | Haast's eagle | moa |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moa=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The moa became extinct after people arrived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x4:1
# text = The moa became extinct after people arrived.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	extinct	extinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | the moa |  |  |  |  | extinct *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **arrive** | past | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a huge moa skeleton at the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x5:1
# text = We saw a huge moa skeleton at the museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	skeleton	skeleton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	museum	museum	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 | **see** | past | We | a huge moa skeleton |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer skeleton=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moa ate leaves, twigs and fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x6:1
# text = Moa ate leaves, twigs and fruit.
1	Moa	Moa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | Moa | leaves and twigs and fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(New Zealand) That old phone has gone the way of the moa.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x7:1
# text = (New Zealand) That old phone has gone the way of the moa.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · perfect | that old phone | New Zealand |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location way=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study moa bones to learn how they lived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moa:x8:1
# text = Scientists study moa bones to learn how they lived.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moa	moa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | moa bones |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bone=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **live** | past | Scientists *= scientist* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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