---
title: monotreme — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «monotreme» in the school dictionary: A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young; the platypus and the echidnas are the only living monotremes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# monotreme

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** monotreme, mammal, platypus, Echidnas, Monotremes, milk · **What happens:** be, lay, give, feed, have, come · **To what, where:** mammal, eggs, birth, only living monotremes, monotreme, spiny monotremes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young; the platypus and the echidnas are the only living monotremes.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:m1:1
# text = A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young; the platypus and the echidnas are the only living monotremes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monotreme	monotreme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	live	live	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	advcl	_	_
15	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	platypus	platypus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	echidnas	echidna	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
22	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	cop	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
24	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
25	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	monotremes	monotreme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a monotreme | a mammal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lay** | present | a mammal | eggs |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Result |
| 3 | **give** | gerund | a mammal *not said here* | birth |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent birth=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | present | the platypus and the echidnas | the only living monotremes |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The platypus is a monotreme, a mammal that lays eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x1:1
# text = The platypus is a monotreme, a mammal that lays eggs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	platypus	platypus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	monotreme	monotreme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lays	lay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the platypus | a monotreme |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lay** | present | a mammal | eggs |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Echidnas are spiny monotremes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x2:1
# text = Echidnas are spiny monotremes.
1	Echidnas	echidna	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	spiny	spiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	monotremes	monotreme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Echidnas | spiny monotremes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Monotremes feed their babies milk but have no nipples; the milk comes through the skin.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x3:1
# text = Monotremes feed their babies milk but have no nipples; the milk comes through the skin.
1	Monotremes	monotreme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feed	feed	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	nipples	nipple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	through	through	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | present | Monotremes | Monotremes's babies milk |  |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent milk=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | Monotremes *not said here* | no nipples |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nipple=Patient |
| 3 | **come** | present | the milk |  |  | the skin |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through skin=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only five kinds of monotreme are alive today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x4:1
# text = Only five kinds of monotreme are alive today.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	monotreme	monotreme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | five kinds of monotreme |  |  |  | today | alive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Monotremes live in Australia and New Guinea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x5:1
# text = Monotremes live in Australia and New Guinea.
1	Monotremes	monotreme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Guinea	Guinea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Monotremes |  |  | Australia and New Guinea |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in australia=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby echidna is called a puggle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:monotreme:x6:1
# text = The baby echidna is called a puggle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	echidna	echidna	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	puggle	puggle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the baby echidna |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

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**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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