---
title: mussel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mussel» in the school dictionary: A mussel is a sea or river shellfish with a long dark blue or black shell in two halves. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mussel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mussel, Mussels, Dad, you, rocks, mussel shell · **What happens:** be, cook, eat, cling, order, open · **To what, where:** sea, Mussels, low tide, shell, mussel, water

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mussel is a sea or river shellfish with a long dark blue or black shell in two halves.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:m1:1
# text = A mussel is a sea or river shellfish with a long dark blue or black shell in two halves.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mussel	mussel	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	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shellfish	shellfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
12	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
13	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
16	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	halves	half	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a mussel | a sea or river shellfish with a long dark blue shell in two halves |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mussels are cooked and eaten as food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:m2:1
# text = Mussels are cooked and eaten as food.
1	Mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | present · passive |  | Mussels |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as food | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mussels cling to the rocks at low tide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x1:1
# text = Mussels cling to the rocks at low tide.
1	Mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cling	cling	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tide	tide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cling** | present | Mussels |  |  | low tide |  | to the rocks | vn cling-22.5 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme to rock=Co-Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad ordered mussels with chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x2:1
# text = Dad ordered mussels with chips.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ordered	order	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | Dad | mussels |  |  |  | with chips | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mussel=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mussel opens its shell to feed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x3:1
# text = A mussel opens its shell to feed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mussel	mussel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opens	open	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | present | a mussel | mussel's shell |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location shell=Theme |
| 2 | **feed** | to-infinitive | a mussel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't eat a mussel that stays closed after cooking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x4:1
# text = Don't eat a mussel that stays closed after cooking.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mussel	mussel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	cooking	cooking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | a mussel |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mussel=Patient |
| 2 | **stay** | present | a mussel |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **close** | participle | a mussel *not said here* |  |  |  | after cooking |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rocks were black with mussels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x5:1
# text = The rocks were black with mussels.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the rocks |  |  |  |  | with mussels; black *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mussels clean the water by filtering it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x6:1
# text = Mussels clean the water by filtering it.
1	Mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clean	clean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	filtering	filter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | present | Mussels | the water |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **filter** | gerund | Mussels *not said here* | water |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent it=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mussel shell grew bigger and bigger, and turned into a pretty little boat, which would have held a dozen children.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mussel:x7:1
# text = The mussel shell grew bigger and bigger, and turned into a pretty little boat, which would have held a dozen children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mussel	mussel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	pretty	pretty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux	_	_
20	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl:relcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	23	nummod	_	_
23	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | the mussel shell |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | past | the mussel shell *not said here* |  |  | a pretty little boat |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into boat=Trajectory |
| 3 | **hold** | would · perfect · passive |  | a pretty little boat |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Theme child=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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