---
title: narwhal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «narwhal» in the school dictionary: A narwhal is a whale of the Arctic Ocean; the male usually has one very long straight spiral tusk growing from his upper lip, which is really a tooth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# narwhal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** narwhal, male, one, long straight spiral tusk, upper lip, male narwhal · **What happens:** be, have, tusk, grow, call, live · **To what, where:** whale, tooth, narwhal, long spiral tusk, icy Arctic Ocean, crack · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A narwhal is a whale of the Arctic Ocean; the male usually has one very long straight spiral tusk growing from his upper lip, which is really a tooth.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:m1:1
# text = A narwhal is a whale of the Arctic Ocean; the male usually has one very long straight spiral tusk growing from his upper lip, which is really a tooth.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narwhal	narwhal	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	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Arctic	Arctic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Ocean	Ocean	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	male	male	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	20	nsubj	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
18	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
19	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	tusk	tusk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
21	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	acl	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
24	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	lip	lip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
27	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	31	nsubj	_	_
28	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
29	really	really	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	_
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a narwhal | a whale |  |  |  | of the Arctic Ocean | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | the male |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tusk** |  | one |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **grow** | gerund | long straight spiral tusk *not said here* |  |  |  |  | from male's upper lip and a tooth | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.product V PP.patient»: agent=Product from lip=Patient |
| 5 | **is a** | present | male's upper lip and a tooth | a tooth |  |  |  |  | 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 narwhal is called the unicorn of the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x1:1
# text = The narwhal is called the unicorn of the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narwhal	narwhal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	unicorn	unicorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A male narwhal has a long spiral tusk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x2:1
# text = A male narwhal has a long spiral tusk.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	narwhal	narwhal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tusk	tusk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a male narwhal | a long spiral tusk |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tusk=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The narwhal's tusk is actually a tooth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x3:1
# text = The narwhal's tusk is actually a tooth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narwhal	narwhal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tusk	tusk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the narwhal's tusk | a tooth |  |  |  | actually *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Narwhals live in the icy Arctic Ocean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x4:1
# text = Narwhals live in the icy Arctic Ocean.
1	Narwhals	narwhal	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	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	Arctic	Arctic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Ocean	Ocean	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Narwhals |  |  | the icy Arctic Ocean |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in ocean=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pod of narwhals came up to breathe through a crack in the ice.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x5:1
# text = A pod of narwhals came up to breathe through a crack in the ice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pod	pod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	narwhals	narwhal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crack	crack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come up** | past | a pod of narwhals |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **breathe** | to-infinitive | a pod of narwhals *not said here* |  |  | a crack in the ice |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People once sold narwhal tusks as unicorn horns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x6:1
# text = People once sold narwhal tusks as unicorn horns.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	narwhal	narwhal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tusks	tusk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	unicorn	unicorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	horns	horn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | People | narwhal tusks |  |  |  | as unicorn horns; once *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tusk=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Narwhals can dive more than a kilometre deep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x7:1
# text = Narwhals can dive more than a kilometre deep.
1	Narwhals	narwhal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	dive	dive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
5	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kilometre	kilometre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dive** | can | Narwhals |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Melting sea ice is a danger for narwhals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narwhal:x8:1
# text = Melting sea ice is a danger for narwhals.
1	Melting	melt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	narwhals	narwhal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **melt** | gerund |  | sea ice |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient ice=Result |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Melting | a danger |  |  |  | for narwhals | 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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