---
title: phage — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «phage» in the school dictionary: A tiny virus that attacks and kills bacteria, not people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# phage

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tiny virus, word ending, white blood cell, phage, virus, Phages · **What happens:** attack, kill, mean, eat, be, infect · **To what, where:** bacteria, eater, germs, virus, phages, resistant bacteria

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tiny virus that attacks and kills bacteria, not people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:m1:1
# text = A tiny virus that attacks and kills bacteria, not people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	attacks	attack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	kills	kill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | present | a tiny virus |  |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **kill** | present | a tiny virus *not said here* | bacteria and people |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bacterium=Theme |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: fragment — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word ending meaning "eater", as in "macrophage" (a white blood cell that eats germs).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:m2:1
# text = A word ending meaning "eater", as in "macrophage" (a white blood cell that eats germs).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	eater	eater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	macrophage	macrophage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | gerund | a word ending *not said here* | eater |  |  |  | as macrophage | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent eater=Topic as macrophage=Attribute |
| 2 | **eat** | present | a white blood cell | germs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent germ=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A phage is a virus that infects bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x1:1
# text = A phage is a virus that infects bacteria.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	phage	phage	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	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	infects	infect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	bacteria	bacteria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a phage | a virus |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **infect** | present | a virus | bacteria |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme bacteria=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phages look like tiny moon landers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x2:1
# text = Phages look like tiny moon landers.
1	Phages	phage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	landers	lander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Phages |  |  |  |  | like tiny moon landers | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists use phages to fight resistant bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x3:1
# text = Scientists use phages to fight resistant bacteria.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	phages	phage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	resistant	resistant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bacteria	bacteria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Scientists | phages |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phage=Patient |
| 2 | **fight** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | resistant bacteria |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bacteria=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phages are harmless to human cells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x4:1
# text = Phages are harmless to human cells.
1	Phages	phage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Phages |  |  |  |  | to human cells; harmless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A macrophage is a white blood cell that eats germs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x5:1
# text = A macrophage is a white blood cell that eats germs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	macrophage	macrophage	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	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a macrophage | a white blood cell |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | present | a white blood cell | germs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent germ=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are more phages on Earth than stars in the sky, scientists estimate.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:phage:x6:1
# text = There are more phages on Earth than stars in the sky, scientists estimate.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	phages	phage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	estimate	estimate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | more phages on Earth than stars |  |  | the sky; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sky=Location |
| 2 | **estimate** | present | scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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