---
title: perch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perch» in the school dictionary: A perch is a branch, bar or stick where a bird sits. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** perch, bird, people, parrot, I, Dad · **What happens:** be, stick, sit, mean, do, perch · **To what, where:** bar, something, way, high place, freshwater fish, spiny fins

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A perch is a branch, bar or stick where a bird sits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:m1:1
# text = A perch is a branch, bar or stick where a bird sits.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	perch	perch	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	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	stick	stick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a perch | bar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stick** | infinitive | a perch *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sit** | present | a bird |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «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 -->
To perch means to sit on something high or narrow, the way a bird does.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:m2:1
# text = To perch means to sit on something high or narrow, the way a bird does.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | perch |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **sit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | perch *not said here* |  |  | something |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on something=Location |
| 3 | **do** | present | a bird | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To perch something is to put it in a high or wobbly place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:m3:1
# text = To perch something is to put it in a high or wobbly place.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	perch	perch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a high place |  | put *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A perch is also a freshwater fish with spiny fins that people catch and eat.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:m4:1
# text = A perch is also a freshwater fish with spiny fins that people catch and eat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	freshwater	freshwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	spiny	spiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	fins	fin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obj	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	catch	catch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a perch | a freshwater fish |  |  |  | with spiny fins | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | present | people | spiny fins |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | present | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The parrot hopped onto its wooden perch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x1:1
# text = The parrot hopped onto its wooden perch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	parrot	parrot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hopped	hop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hop** | past | the parrot |  |  | parrot's wooden perch |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto perch=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A robin perched on the garden fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x2:1
# text = A robin perched on the garden fence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robin	robin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fence	fence	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 | **perch** | participle |  | a robin *not said here* |  | the garden fence |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on fence=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I perched on the edge of the bed, waiting for news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x3:1
# text = I perched on the edge of the bed, waiting for news.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	perched	perch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | past | I |  |  | the edge of the bed |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on edge=Location |
| 2 | **wait** | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for news | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His glasses were perched on the end of his nose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x4:1
# text = His glasses were perched on the end of his nose.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | past · passive |  | His glasses |  |  | on the end of his nose |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme on end=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was perched on top of a steep hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x5:1
# text = The castle was perched on top of a steep hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | past · passive |  | the castle |  | top of a steep hill |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme on top=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad caught three perch at the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x6:1
# text = Dad caught three perch at the lake.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lake	lake	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 | **catch** | past | Dad | three perch |  | the lake |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent perch=Theme at lake=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owls watch for mice from a high perch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x7:1
# text = Owls watch for mice from a high perch.
1	Owls	owl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watch	watch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present | Owls |  |  | a high perch |  | for mice | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for mouse=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The raven perched upon a tree very joyfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perch:x8:1
# text = The raven perched upon a tree very joyfully.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	raven	raven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	perched	perch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	joyfully	joyfully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perch** | participle |  | the raven *not said here* |  | a tree |  | joyfully *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent upon tree=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 -->
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