---
title: porcupine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «porcupine» in the school dictionary: A porcupine is a large rodent covered in long sharp spines called quills, which protect it from enemies. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# porcupine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** porcupine, long sharp spines, large rodent, two main groups, dog, Porcupines · **What happens:** be, cover, call, protect, live, raise · **To what, where:** large rodent, quills, porcupine, bark, baby porcupine, tree · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«porcupine» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [porcupine in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/porcupine.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A porcupine is a large rodent covered in long sharp spines called quills, which protect it from enemies.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:m1:1
# text = A porcupine is a large rodent covered in long sharp spines called quills, which protect it from enemies.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rodent	rodent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
12	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	quills	quill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a porcupine | a large rodent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | participle |  | a large rodent *not said here* |  |  |  | in long sharp spines | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in spine=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | participle | long sharp spines *not said here* | quills |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **protect** | present | a large rodent | porcupine |  |  |  | from enemies | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary from enemy=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are two main groups: tree-climbing porcupines in the Americas and ground-living ones in Africa, Asia and southern Europe.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:m2:1
# text = There are two main groups: tree-climbing porcupines in the Americas and ground-living ones in Africa, Asia and southern Europe.
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	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	climbing	climbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	porcupines	porcupine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Americas	AMERICAS	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	amod	_	_
18	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | two main groups  climbing porcupines in the Americas and living ones in Africa and Asia and southern Europe |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A porcupine raises its quills when it feels scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x1:1
# text = A porcupine raises its quills when it feels scared.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	raises	raise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	quills	quill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | present | a porcupine | porcupine's quills |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent quill=Theme |
| 2 | **feel** | present | porcupine |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog came home with porcupine quills in its nose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x2:1
# text = The dog came home with porcupine quills in its nose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	quills	quill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  | with porcupine quills in dog's nose; home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Porcupines eat bark, leaves and fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x3:1
# text = Porcupines eat bark, leaves and fruit.
1	Porcupines	porcupine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Porcupines | bark and leaves and fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bark=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby porcupine is called a porcupette.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x4:1
# text = A baby porcupine is called a porcupette.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	porcupette	porcupette	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a baby porcupine |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The porcupine climbed a tree to escape the fox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x5:1
# text = The porcupine climbed a tree to escape the fox.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	climbed	climb	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	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | the porcupine | a tree |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location tree=Theme |
| 2 | **escape** | to-infinitive | the porcupine *not said here* | the fox |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme fox=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Porcupines cannot shoot their quills, despite the myth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x6:1
# text = Porcupines cannot shoot their quills, despite the myth.
1	Porcupines	porcupine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	shoot	shoot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	quills	quill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **shoot** | can | Porcupines | Porcupines's quills |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent quill=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother's hair stuck up like a porcupine after his nap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x7:1
# text = My little brother's hair stuck up like a porcupine after his nap.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	stuck	stick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	after	after	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	nap	nap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick up** | participle |  | My little brother's hair *not said here* |  |  | after porcupine's nap | like a porcupine | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We read a story about a porcupine who wanted a hug.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x8:1
# text = We read a story about a porcupine who wanted a hug.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hug	hug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | We | a story |  |  |  | about a porcupine | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Topic |
| 2 | **want** | past | a porcupine | a hug |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot hug=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Porcupine was looking for a good home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porcupine:x9:1
# text = A Porcupine was looking for a good home.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past · progressive | a Porcupine |  |  |  |  | for a good home | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for home=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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