---
title: paramecium — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «paramecium» in the school dictionary: A paramecium is a tiny living thing made of just one cell, shaped like a slipper, that lives in ponds and fresh water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# paramecium

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** paramecium, that, It, tiny hairs, We, You · **What happens:** be, make, shape, live, move, beat · **To what, where:** tiny living thing, ponds, thousands, cilia, paramecium, drop · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A paramecium is a tiny living thing made of just one cell, shaped like a slipper, that lives in ponds and fresh water.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:m1:1
# text = A paramecium is a tiny living thing made of just one cell, shaped like a slipper, that lives in ponds and fresh water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paramecium	paramecium	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	7	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	slipper	slipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	ponds	pond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a paramecium | a tiny living thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a tiny living thing *not said here* |  |  |  | of one cell | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  | a tiny living thing *not said here* |  |  |  | like a slipper | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **live** | present | that |  |  | ponds and fresh water |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pond=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
It moves by beating thousands of tiny hairs called cilia and can only be seen with a microscope.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:m2:1
# text = It moves by beating thousands of tiny hairs called cilia and can only be seen with a microscope.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	beating	beat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hairs	hair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	cilia	cilium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
13	only	only	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **beat** | gerund |  | thousands of tiny hairs |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location thousand=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | participle | tiny hairs *not said here* | cilia |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **see** | can · passive | tiny hairs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a microscope | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a paramecium in a drop of pond water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x1:1
# text = We saw a paramecium in a drop of pond water.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	drop	drop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a paramecium |  | a drop of pond water |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer paramecium=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A paramecium is made of just one cell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x2:1
# text = A paramecium is made of just one cell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | a paramecium |  |  |  | of one cell | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The paramecium swam fast using its tiny hairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x3:1
# text = The paramecium swam fast using its tiny hairs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hairs	hair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | the paramecium |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | the paramecium *not said here* | paramecium's tiny hairs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You need a microscope to see a paramecium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x4:1
# text = You need a microscope to see a paramecium.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | You | a microscope |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot microscope=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | a paramecium |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer paramecium=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher drew a paramecium shaped like a slipper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x5:1
# text = The teacher drew a paramecium shaped like a slipper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	slipper	slipper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | the teacher | a paramecium |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paramecium=Theme |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  | a paramecium *not said here* |  |  |  | like a slipper | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A paramecium eats bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x6:1
# text = A paramecium eats bacteria.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paramecium	paramecium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | a paramecium | bacteria |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bacterium=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many paramecia were moving on the slide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paramecium:x7:1
# text = Many paramecia were moving on the slide.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	paramecia	paramecium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	slide	slide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past · progressive | Many paramecia |  |  | the slide |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on slide=Trajectory |

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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.

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