---
title: plantain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plantain» in the school dictionary: A fruit like a big banana that is usually cooked before eating, often fried, boiled or baked; popular in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# plantain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** common wild plant, tiny flowers, Fried plantain, plantain, Plantains, mum · **What happens:** cook, eat, fry, boil, bake, grow · **To what, where:** big banana, lawns, plantain, lawn, game, heads

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fruit like a big banana that is usually cooked before eating, often fried, boiled or baked; popular in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:m1:1
# text = A fruit like a big banana that is usually cooked before eating, often fried, boiled or baked; popular in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	fried	fry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	boiled	boil	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	baked	bake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	Caribbean	Caribbean	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
28	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	_
29	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | present · passive |  | a big banana |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fry** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **boil** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **bake** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 common wild plant (weed) with flat leaves close to the ground and thin spikes of tiny flowers; it grows on lawns and paths.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:m2:1
# text = A common wild plant (weed) with flat leaves close to the ground and thin spikes of tiny flowers; it grows on lawns and paths.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	weed	weed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
11	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	spikes	spike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
24	on	on	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	lawns	lawn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	paths	path	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | a common wild plant with flat leaves |  |  | lawns and paths |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on lawn=Location |
| 2 | **spike** |  | tiny flowers |  |  |  |  |  | nom spike «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fried plantain is sweet and soft when it is ripe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x1:1
# text = Fried plantain is sweet and soft when it is ripe.
1	Fried	fry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	plantain	plantain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	ripe	ripe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Fried plantain |  |  |  |  | sweet *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Fried plantain *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | plantain |  |  |  |  | ripe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plantains look like bananas but are usually cooked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x2:1
# text = Plantains look like bananas but are usually cooked.
1	Plantains	plantain	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	_	4	case	_	_
4	bananas	banana	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Plantains |  |  |  |  | like bananas | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **cook** | present · passive | Plantains *not said here* |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V» |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My Nigerian friend's mum makes plantain with rice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x3:1
# text = My Nigerian friend's mum makes plantain with rice.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Nigerian	nigerian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	plantain	plantain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	rice	rice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | My Nigerian friend's mum | plantain |  |  |  | with rice | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plantain=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Green plantain is hard and starchy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x4:1
# text = Green plantain is hard and starchy.
1	Green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	plantain	plantain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	starchy	starchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Green plantain |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Green plantain *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is plantain growing all over our lawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x5:1
# text = There is plantain growing all over our lawn.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	plantain	plantain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
4	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	all	all	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	lawn	lawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | plantain |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | plantain *not said here* |  |  | our lawn |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over lawn=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played a game knocking the heads off ribwort plantain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plantain:x6:1
# text = We played a game knocking the heads off ribwort plantain.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	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	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	knocking	knock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	ribwort	ribwort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	plantain	plantain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | We | a game |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |
| 2 | **knock** | gerund | a game *not said here* | the heads |  |  |  | off ribwort plantain | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent head=Patient off plantain=Co-Patient |

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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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