---
title: opossum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «opossum» in the school dictionary: An opossum is a North and South American marsupial about the size of a cat, with a pointed white face, bare ears and a long, bare tail that can grip branches. 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/O/opossum/)

<!-- 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/) / [O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/) / opossum

# opossum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** opossum, long bare tail, possum, mother opossum, dog, Playing · **What happens:** be, grip, hang, carry, play, sniff · **To what, where:** North American marsupial, branches, different marsupial, Australia, branch, babies · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«opossum» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [opossum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/opossum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An opossum is a North and South American marsupial about the size of a cat, with a pointed white face, bare ears and a long, bare tail that can grip branches.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:m1:1
# text = An opossum is a North and South American marsupial about the size of a cat, with a pointed white face, bare ears and a long, bare tail that can grip branches.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	marsupial	marsupial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
20	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
27	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
29	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
31	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	33	nsubj	_	_
32	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	33	aux	_	_
33	grip	grip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	30	acl:relcl	_	_
34	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	33	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a opossum | a North American marsupial |  |  |  | about the size of a cat | tree rules |
| 2 | **grip** | can | a long bare tail | branches |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent branch=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
In Australia and New Zealand, «possum» is a different marsupial: a furry tree animal like the brushtail possum.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:m2:1
# text = In Australia and New Zealand, «possum» is a different marsupial: a furry tree animal like the brushtail possum.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	_
5	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	marsupial	marsupial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	furry	furry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	brushtail	brushtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | possum | a different marsupial |  | Australia and New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opossum hung from the branch by its tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x1:1
# text = The opossum hung from the branch by its tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	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	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | past | the opossum |  |  | the branch |  | by opossum's tail | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by tail=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mother opossum carried her babies on her back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x2:1
# text = A mother opossum carried her babies on her back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | a mother opossum | opossum's babies |  | opossum's back |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baby=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opossum played dead when the dog sniffed it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x3:1
# text = The opossum played dead when the dog sniffed it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sniffed	sniff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the opossum | dead |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dead=Theme |
| 2 | **sniff** | past | the dog | opossum |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Playing possum» means pretending to be asleep or dead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x4:1
# text = «Playing possum» means pretending to be asleep or dead.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
3	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** *in a quote* | gerund |  | possum |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possum=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Playing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | asleep *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Opossums are the only marsupials in North America.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x5:1
# text = Opossums are the only marsupials in North America.
1	Opossums	opossum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	marsupials	marsupial	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Opossums | the only marsupials |  | North America |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia, a brushtail possum lived in our roof!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opossum:x6:1
# text = In Australia, a brushtail possum lived in our roof!
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	brushtail	brushtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | a brushtail possum |  |  | Australia |  | in our roof | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in australia=Location |

<!-- 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: [opium](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/opium/)
- next →: [opponent](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/opponent/)
- ↑ back to [O in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/)