---
title: pen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pen» in the school dictionary: A pen is a tool for writing or drawing with ink. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pen, she, pigs, you, your, farmer · **What happens:** be, draw, pen, have, cost, write · **To what, where:** tool, small fenced place, letter, pen, 8 pens, 2 dollars · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pen» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [pen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pen is a tool for writing or drawing with ink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:m1:1
# text = A pen is a tool for writing or drawing with ink.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	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	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pen | a tool |  |  |  | for writing | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | gerund | a pen *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with ink | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 pen is also a small fenced place for animals, like a sheep pen or pig pen.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:m2:1
# text = A pen is also a small fenced place for animals, like a sheep pen or pig pen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	fenced	fenced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	pig	pig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pen | a small fenced place and a sheep pen or pig pen |  |  |  | for animals | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pen is to write: «she penned a letter».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:m3:1
# text = To pen is to write: «she penned a letter».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	penned	pen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | write *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pen** *in a quote* | past | she | a letter |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pen in animals is to shut them in a pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:m4:1
# text = To pen in animals is to shut them in a pen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	advcl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	shut	shut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has 8 pens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x1:1
# text = She has 8 pens.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | 8 pens |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each pen costs 2 dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x2:1
# text = Each pen costs 2 dollars.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | each pen | 2 dollars |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme dollar=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pigs are in a pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x3:1
# text = The pigs are in a pen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pigs	pig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pen has 4 sheep in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x4:1
# text = The pen has 4 sheep in it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the pen | 4 sheep |  | it |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sheep=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please write your name in blue pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x5:1
# text = Please write your name in blue pen.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pen	pen	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 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | your name |  | blue pen |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent name=Theme in pen=Destination |
| 2 | **name** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My pen ran out of ink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x6:1
# text = My pen ran out of ink.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ink	ink	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 | **run** | past | My pen |  |  | ink |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out ink=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer built a pen for the lambs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x7:1
# text = The farmer built a pen for the lambs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	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	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lambs	lamb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the farmer | a pen |  |  |  | for the lambs | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent pen=Material for lamb=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have a pen pal in New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x8:1
# text = I have a pen pal in New Zealand.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	pal	pal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
8	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She penned a short poem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pen:x9:1
# text = She penned a short poem.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	penned	pen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pen** | past | She | a short poem |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent poem=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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