---
title: oyster — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oyster» in the school dictionary: A sea animal with a soft body inside a rough, hinged shell; some are eaten as food. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oyster

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sea animal, kind, world, you, oyster, pearl · **What happens:** hinge, eat, make, be, go, do · **To what, where:** some, pearl, shell, oyster, saying, anything · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«oyster» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [oyster in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/oyster.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sea animal with a soft body inside a rough, hinged shell; some are eaten as food.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:m1:1
# text = A sea animal with a soft body inside a rough, hinged shell; some are eaten as food.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	hinged	hinge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hinge** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | present · passive | a sea animal with a soft body inside a rough hinged shell *not said here* | some |  |  |  | as food | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- .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 pearl oyster: a kind of oyster that can make a pearl inside its shell.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:m2:1
# text = A pearl oyster: a kind of oyster that can make a pearl inside its shell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pearl	pearl	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pearl	pearl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | a kind of oyster | a pearl |  | oyster's shell |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pearl=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the saying «the world is your oyster»: you can go anywhere and do anything you choose.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:m3:1
# text = In the saying «the world is your oyster»: you can go anywhere and do anything you choose.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	saying	saying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	parataxis	_	_
15	anywhere	anywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	14	advmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
18	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	choose	choose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the world | your oyster |  | the saying |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | can | you |  |  |  |  | anywhere *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* | anything |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Eventuality |
| 4 | **choose** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oyster has a hard rough shell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x1:1
# text = An oyster has a hard rough shell.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pearl grows inside an oyster when sand or grit gets in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x2:1
# text = A pearl grows inside an oyster when sand or grit gets in.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pearl	pearl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	grit	grit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | a pearl |  |  | a oyster |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme inside oyster=Location |
| 2 | **get in** | present | sand or grit |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oysters clean the water by filtering it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x3:1
# text = Oysters clean the water by filtering it.
1	Oysters	oyster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clean	clean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	filtering	filter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | present | Oysters | the water |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **filter** | gerund | Oysters *not said here* | water |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent it=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad loves eating oysters at the seaside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x4:1
# text = Grandad loves eating oysters at the seaside.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	oysters	oyster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	seaside	seaside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **eat** *not said to happen* | gerund | Grandad *not said here* | oysters |  | the seaside |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oyster=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You're young and clever — the world is your oyster!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x5:1
# text = You're young and clever — the world is your oyster!
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | You |  |  |  |  | young *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | You *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | the world | your oyster |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fishermen collected oysters from the oyster beds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x6:1
# text = Fishermen collected oysters from the oyster beds.
1	Fishermen	fisherman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	oysters	oyster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	beds	bed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | Fishermen | oysters |  | the oyster beds |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent oyster=Theme from bed=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
London's «Oyster card» is used to pay for buses and the Tube.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x7:1
# text = London's «Oyster card» is used to pay for buses and the Tube.
1	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Oyster	oyster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	buses	bus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Tube	Tube	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | London's Oyster card |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for buses and the Tube | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for bus=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One day the fisherman went out fishing, and among his catch for the day he brought home three dozen oysters.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oyster:x8:1
# text = One day the fisherman went out fishing, and among his catch for the day he brought home three dozen oysters.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fisherman	fisherman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	among	among	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	catch	catch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
18	home	home	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
19	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	20	compound	_	_
20	dozen	dozen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	21	nummod	_	_
21	oysters	oyster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** | past | the fisherman | fishing |  |  | day | among fisherman's catch for the day | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | past | fisherman | dozen oysters |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent oyster=Theme |

<!-- 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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