---
title: plankton — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plankton» in the school dictionary: Plankton are tiny plants and animals that drift in the sea and in lakes, carried by the water; most are too small to see without a microscope. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# plankton

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Plankton, animals, most, Plant plankton, we, animal plankton · **What happens:** be, drift, carry, see, make, produce · **To what, where:** tiny plants, sea, food, sunlight, large share, oxygen

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plankton are tiny plants and animals that drift in the sea and in lakes, carried by the water; most are too small to see without a microscope.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:m1:1
# text = Plankton are tiny plants and animals that drift in the sea and in lakes, carried by the water; most are too small to see without a microscope.
1	Plankton	plankton	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	drift	drift	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	lakes	lake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
21	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	24	nsubj	_	_
22	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	too	too	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	advcl	_	_
27	without	without	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Plankton | tiny plants and animals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drift** | present | animals |  |  | the sea and lakes |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Trajectory |
| 3 | **carry** | participle |  | tiny plants and animals *not said here* |  |  |  | by the water | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | most |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **see** | to-infinitive | most *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without a microscope | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Plant plankton (phytoplankton) make food from sunlight and produce a large share of the oxygen we breathe; animal plankton (zooplankton) include tiny shrimps and baby fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:m2:1
# text = Plant plankton (phytoplankton) make food from sunlight and produce a large share of the oxygen we breathe; animal plankton (zooplankton) include tiny shrimps and baby fish.
1	Plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	phytoplankton	phytoplankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	produce	produce	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	share	share	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	breathe	breathe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
21	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj	_	_
23	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	zooplankton	zooplankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	_
26	include	include	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
27	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	shrimps	shrimp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
30	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Plant plankton | food |  | sunlight |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset food=Product from sunlight=Material |
| 2 | **produce** | infinitive | Plant plankton *not said here* | a large share of the oxygen |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent share=Result |
| 3 | **breathe** | present | we | the oxygen *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oxygen=Theme |
| 4 | **include** | present | animal plankton | tiny shrimps and baby fish |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shrimp=Theme |
| 5 | **share** |  |  | the oxygen |  |  |  |  | nom share «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plankton float in the ocean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x1:1
# text = Plankton float in the ocean.
1	Plankton	plankton	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	float	float	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **float** | present | Plankton |  |  | the ocean |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in ocean=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many whales feed on tiny plankton and krill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x2:1
# text = Many whales feed on tiny plankton and krill.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	feed	feed	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	krill	krill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | present | Many whales |  |  |  |  | on tiny plankton and krill | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on plankton=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plankton are at the bottom of the ocean food chain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x3:1
# text = Plankton are at the bottom of the ocean food chain.
1	Plankton	plankton	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Plankton |  |  | the bottom |  | of the ocean food chain | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phytoplankton make oxygen from sunlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x4:1
# text = Phytoplankton make oxygen from sunlight.
1	Phytoplankton	phytoplankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Phytoplankton | oxygen |  | sunlight |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset oxygen=Product from sunlight=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We looked at plankton under the microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x5:1
# text = We looked at plankton under the microscope.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	microscope	microscope	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 | **look** | past | We |  |  |  |  | under the microscope; at plankton | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at plankton=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sea glowed at night because of special plankton.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x6:1
# text = The sea glowed at night because of special plankton.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	glowed	glow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | past | the sea |  |  |  | night | because special plankton | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small fish eat plankton, and bigger fish eat the small fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plankton:x7:1
# text = Small fish eat plankton, and bigger fish eat the small fish.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	plankton	plankton	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Small fish | plankton |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plankton=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | present | bigger fish | the small fish |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Patient |

<!-- 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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