---
title: mudskipper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mudskipper» in the school dictionary: A small fish that lives on muddy shores and in mangrove swamps and can come out of the water, skipping and crawling on the mud with its strong front fins. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mudskipper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small fish, mudskipper, Mudskippers, We, male mudskipper · **What happens:** live, come out, skip, crawl, hop, stay out · **To what, where:** muddy shores, water, mud, eyes, top, nature show

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small fish that lives on muddy shores and in mangrove swamps and can come out of the water, skipping and crawling on the mud with its strong front fins.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:m1:1
# text = A small fish that lives on muddy shores and in mangrove swamps and can come out of the water, skipping and crawling on the mud with its strong front fins.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	shores	shore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	mangrove	mangrove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	swamps	swamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	skipping	skip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	crawling	crawl	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	21	conj	_	_
24	on	on	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
27	with	with	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
28	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	31	nmod:poss	_	_
29	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	amod	_	_
30	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	amod	_	_
31	fins	fin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a small fish |  |  | muddy shores and mangrove swamps |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on shore=Location |
| 2 | **come out** | can | a small fish *not said here* | the water |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient water=Result |
| 3 | **skip** | gerund | a small fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **crawl** | gerund | a small fish *not said here* |  |  | the mud |  | with mud's strong front fins | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on mud=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 mudskipper hopped across the mud at low tide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x1:1
# text = The mudskipper hopped across the mud at low tide.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mudskipper	mudskipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hopped	hop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tide	tide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hop** | past | the mudskipper |  |  | the mud |  | at low tide | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across mud=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mudskipper can stay out of water for a long time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x2:1
# text = A mudskipper can stay out of water for a long time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mudskipper	mudskipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay out** | can | a mudskipper | water |  |  | time |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme water=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mudskippers have eyes on top of their heads, like little periscopes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x3:1
# text = Mudskippers have eyes on top of their heads, like little periscopes.
1	Mudskippers	mudskipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	periscopes	periscope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Mudskippers | eyes |  | top of Mudskippers's heads |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a nature show about mudskippers in the mangroves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x4:1
# text = We watched a nature show about mudskippers in the mangroves.
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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	mudskippers	mudskipper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mangroves	mangrove	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | a nature show |  |  |  | about mudskippers in the mangroves | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent show=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The male mudskipper jumps high to impress a female.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x5:1
# text = The male mudskipper jumps high to impress a female.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mudskipper	mudskipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	jumps	jump	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	impress	impress	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | present | the male mudskipper |  |  |  |  | high *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **impress** | to-infinitive | the male mudskipper *not said here* | a female |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus female=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is a mudskipper a fish or a frog? It is a fish!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Is a mudskipper a fish or a frog?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x6:1
# text = Is a mudskipper a fish or a frog?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mudskipper	mudskipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It is a fish!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mudskipper:x6:2
# text = It is a fish!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	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	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 | mudskipper | a fish |  |  |  |  | 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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