---
title: nocturnal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nocturnal» in the school dictionary: Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nocturnal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nocturnal animals, Owls, Hedgehogs, you, Bats, Possums · **What happens:** be, happen, see, use, find, run · **To what, where:** nocturnal birds, Hedgehogs, sound, food, nocturnal flights, wheel

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:m1:1
# text = Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day.
1	Nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	active	active	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	during	during	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	day	day	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 | **is** | present | Nocturnal animals |  |  |  | day; night | active *property* | 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 -->
Happening at night: a nocturnal walk, nocturnal noises.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:m2:1
# text = Happening at night: a nocturnal walk, nocturnal noises.
1	Happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	noises	noise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  |  | night |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owls are nocturnal birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x1:1
# text = Owls are nocturnal birds.
1	Owls	owl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Owls | nocturnal birds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so you see them at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x2:1
# text = Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so you see them at night.
1	Hedgehogs	hedgehog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Hedgehogs |  |  |  |  | nocturnal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | present | you | Hedgehogs *= hedgehog* |  |  | night |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats use sound to find food on their nocturnal flights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x3:1
# text = Bats use sound to find food on their nocturnal flights.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	flights	flight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Bats | sound |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Bats *not said here* | food |  | Bats's nocturnal flights |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Possums in Australia are nocturnal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x4:1
# text = Possums in Australia are nocturnal.
1	Possums	possum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Possums in Australia |  |  |  |  | nocturnal *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our hamster is nocturnal and runs on its wheel all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x5:1
# text = Our hamster is nocturnal and runs on its wheel all night.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	hamster	hamster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our hamster |  |  |  |  | nocturnal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | present | Our hamster *not said here* |  |  | hamster's wheel | night |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on wheel=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went on a nocturnal walk to see the stars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x6:1
# text = We went on a nocturnal walk to see the stars.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We |  |  | a nocturnal walk |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on walk=Location |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the stars |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer star=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many desert animals are nocturnal to avoid the heat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nocturnal:x7:1
# text = Many desert animals are nocturnal to avoid the heat.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	nocturnal	nocturnal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Many desert animals |  |  |  |  | nocturnal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | Many desert animals *not said here* | the heat |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent heat=Location |

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**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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