---
title: myth — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «myth» in the school dictionary: A myth is a very old story about gods, heroes or magical creatures, often explaining how the world or nature began. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# myth

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** myth, old story, world, many people, that, We · **What happens:** be, explain, begin, believe, not be, read · **To what, where:** old story, common idea, Greek myth, myth, god, Norse myths · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A myth is a very old story about gods, heroes or magical creatures, often explaining how the world or nature began.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:m1:1
# text = A myth is a very old story about gods, heroes or magical creatures, often explaining how the world or nature began.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	heroes	hero	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	magical	magical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
18	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	23	advmod	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a myth | a old story |  |  |  | about gods and heroes or magical creatures | tree rules |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | gerund | a old story *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **begin** | past | the world or nature |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
A myth is a common idea that many people believe but that is not true.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:m2:1
# text = A myth is a common idea that many people believe but that is not true.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	myth	myth	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	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a myth | a common idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | present | many people | a common idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer idea=Stimulus |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | that |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We read the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x1:1
# text = We read the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Theseus	Theseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Minotaur	Minotaur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | We | the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent myth=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Myths often explain how the world began.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x2:1
# text = Myths often explain how the world began.
1	Myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	explain	explain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | Myths |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **begin** | past | the world |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a myth that goldfish only remember for three seconds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x3:1
# text = It's a myth that goldfish only remember for three seconds.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	goldfish	goldfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	remember	remember	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	seconds	second	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a myth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **remember** | present | goldfish |  |  |  | second |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thor is a god from Norse myths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x4:1
# text = Thor is a god from Norse myths.
1	Thor	thor	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	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Norse	norse	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The idea that bats are blind is a myth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x5:1
# text = The idea that bats are blind is a myth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | bats | the idea *not said here* |  |  |  | blind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the idea | a myth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many myths have been told for thousands of years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x6:1
# text = Many myths have been told for thousands of years.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · perfect · passive |  | Many myths |  |  |  | for thousands of years | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists test ideas to find out which are myths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:myth:x7:1
# text = Scientists test ideas to find out which are myths.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	test	test	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | present | Scientists | ideas |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |
| 2 | **find out** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | myths |  |  |  |  | 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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