---
title: nativity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nativity» in the school dictionary: The Nativity is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as told in the Gospels; Christians celebrate it at Christmas. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nativity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nativity, Christians, nativity play, that, nativity scene, I · **What happens:** be, tell, celebrate, do, mean, play · **To what, where:** birth, Gospels, Nativity, Christmas, play, school · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nativity» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [nativity in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nativity.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church, Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Nativity is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as told in the Gospels; Christians celebrate it at Christmas.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:m1:1
# text = The Nativity is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as told in the Gospels; Christians celebrate it at Christmas.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Nativity	Nativity	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Bethlehem	Bethlehem	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Gospels	Gospel	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	celebrate	celebrate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Nativity | the birth |  |  |  | of Jesus in Bethlehem | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | participle |  | the birth *not said here* |  | the Gospels |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **celebrate** | present | Christians | Nativity |  | Christmas |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .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 nativity play is a play, often done by children at school or church, that tells the Christmas story.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:m2:1
# text = A nativity play is a play, often done by children at school or church, that tells the Christmas story.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nativity play | a play |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  | a play *not said here* |  | school or church |  | by children; often *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | that | the Christmas story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nativity scene is a model or picture of the stable with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and animals.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:m3:1
# text = A nativity scene is a model or picture of the stable with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and animals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
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	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stable	stable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Joseph	Joseph	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
18	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	shepherds	shepherd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	appos	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nativity scene | a model or picture of the stable with Mary and Joseph and baby and shepherds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nativity can mean anyone's birth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:m4:1
# text = Nativity can mean anyone's birth.
1	Nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Nativity | anyone's birth |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent birth=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was a shepherd in our school nativity play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x1:1
# text = I was a shepherd in our school nativity play.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | I | a shepherd |  | our nativity play |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom play «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nativity scene showed baby Jesus lying in a manger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x2:1
# text = The nativity scene showed baby Jesus lying in a manger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
7	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	manger	manger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the nativity scene | baby |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent baby=Recipient |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund | baby *not said here* |  |  | a manger |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in manger=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Nativity is told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x3:1
# text = The Nativity is told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Nativity	Nativity	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Gospels	Gospel	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Matthew	Matthew	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	Luke	Luke	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | the Nativity |  | the Gospels of Matthew and Luke |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother was a sheep in the nativity and forgot to say «baa».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x4:1
# text = My little brother was a sheep in the nativity and forgot to say «baa».
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	baa	baa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | My little brother | a sheep |  | the nativity |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | past | My little brother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | My little brother *not said here* | baa |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent baa=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Families came to watch the children's nativity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x5:1
# text = Families came to watch the children's nativity.
1	Families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Families |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive | Families *not said here* | the children's nativity |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nativity=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The painting shows the Nativity with angels above the stable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nativity:x6:1
# text = The painting shows the Nativity with angels above the stable.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	angels	angel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	above	above	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	stable	stable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the painting | the Nativity |  |  |  | with angels above the stable | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent nativity=Recipient |

<!-- 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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