---
title: nursery — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nursery» in the school dictionary: A nursery is a place where young children are cared for while their parents work, before they start school. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nursery/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/) / nursery

# nursery

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nursery, parents, children, little sister, They, baby · **What happens:** be, care, work, start, grow, sell · **To what, where:** place, young children, school, bedroom, plants, first class

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nursery is a place where young children are cared for while their parents work, before they start school.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:m1:1
# text = A nursery is a place where young children are cared for while their parents work, before they start school.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nursery	nursery	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	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	cared	care	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	_
12	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
20	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nursery | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **care** | present · passive |  | young children |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | present | children's parents |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **start** | present | parents *= parent* | school |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=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 nursery is a child's bedroom for a baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:m2:1
# text = A nursery is a child's bedroom for a baby.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nursery	nursery	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	5	det	_	_
5	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nursery | a child's bedroom |  |  |  | for a baby | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nursery is a place where plants and trees are grown and sold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:m3:1
# text = A nursery is a place where plants and trees are grown and sold.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nursery	nursery	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	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a nursery | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present · passive |  | plants and trees |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **sell** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nursery (class or school) is the first class for children aged about three to four.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:m4:1
# text = Nursery (class or school) is the first class for children aged about three to four.
1	Nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	aged	age	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	acl	_	_
14	about	about	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nursery | the first class |  |  |  | for children | tree rules |
| 2 | **age** | participle | children *not said here* | three |  |  |  | to four | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent three=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister goes to nursery every morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x1:1
# text = My little sister goes to nursery every morning.
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	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | My little sister |  |  | nursery | morning |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to nursery=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They painted the nursery yellow before the baby came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x2:1
# text = They painted the nursery yellow before the baby came.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	yellow	yellow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | They | the nursery yellow |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent yellow=Destination |
| 2 | **come** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We bought apple trees from the nursery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x3:1
# text = We bought apple trees from the nursery.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	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 | **buy** | past | We | apple trees |  | the nursery |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent tree=Theme from nursery=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star» is a nursery rhyme.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x4:1
# text = «Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star» is a nursery rhyme.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Twinkle	twinkle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Twinkle	twinkle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	Little	Little	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Star	Star	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	rhyme	rhyme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Twinkle and Twinkle | a nursery rhyme |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nursery has 24 children and 4 staff, so 6 children per adult.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x5:1
# text = The nursery has 24 children and 4 staff, so 6 children per adult.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	24	24	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
13	per	per	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the nursery | 24 children and 4 staff and 6 children per adult |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I learned to paint at nursery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x6:1
# text = I learned to paint at nursery.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	paint	paint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **paint** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  | nursery |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent at nursery=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nursery grows thousands of baby plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x7:1
# text = The nursery grows thousands of baby plants.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | the nursery | thousands of baby plants |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location thousand=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We now return to the nursery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nursery:x8:1
# text = We now return to the nursery.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	return	return	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **return** | present | We |  |  |  | now | to the nursery *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to nursery=Result |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [nurse](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nurse/)
- next →: [nurture](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nurture/)
- ↑ back to [N in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/)