---
title: porpoise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «porpoise» in the school dictionary: A porpoise is a sea mammal like a small dolphin, with a short, round snout, a rounded head, a small triangular back fin and flat, spade-shaped teeth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# porpoise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** porpoise, We, Porpoises, Harbour porpoises, vaquita, fish · **What happens:** be, round, shape, see, breathe, live · **To what, where:** sea mammal, porpoise, ferry, blowhole, cold seas, fish

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A porpoise is a sea mammal like a small dolphin, with a short, round snout, a rounded head, a small triangular back fin and flat, spade-shaped teeth.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:m1:1
# text = A porpoise is a sea mammal like a small dolphin, with a short, round snout, a rounded head, a small triangular back fin and flat, spade-shaped teeth.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porpoise	porpoise	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	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	dolphin	dolphin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
14	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
16	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	rounded	round	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	amod	_	_
21	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
24	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
25	triangular	triangular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
26	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	34	punct	_	_
31	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	34	amod	_	_
34	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a porpoise | a sea mammal |  |  |  | like a small dolphin; with a short round snout and a rounded head and a small triangular back fin and shaped teeth | tree rules |
| 2 | **round** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a porpoise from the ferry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x1:1
# text = We saw a porpoise from the ferry.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	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	porpoise	porpoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ferry	ferry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a porpoise |  | the ferry |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer porpoise=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Porpoises are smaller than most dolphins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x2:1
# text = Porpoises are smaller than most dolphins.
1	Porpoises	porpoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	dolphins	dolphin	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 | Porpoises |  |  |  |  | than most dolphins; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A porpoise breathes through a blowhole on top of its head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x3:1
# text = A porpoise breathes through a blowhole on top of its head.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porpoise	porpoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	breathes	breathe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | present | a porpoise |  |  | a blowhole on top of porpoise's head |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harbour porpoises live in the cold seas around Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x4:1
# text = Harbour porpoises live in the cold seas around Britain.
1	Harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	porpoises	porpoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	around	around	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Harbour porpoises |  |  | the cold seas around Britain |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vaquita is a porpoise that is nearly extinct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x5:1
# text = The vaquita is a porpoise that is nearly extinct.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vaquita	vaquita	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	porpoise	porpoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	extinct	extinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the vaquita | a porpoise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a porpoise |  |  |  |  | extinct, nearly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Porpoises hunt fish using echoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x6:1
# text = Porpoises hunt fish using echoes.
1	Porpoises	porpoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	echoes	echo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Porpoises | fish |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | fish *not said here* | echoes |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent echo=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One would have thought that Pinocchio had turned into a porpoise playing in the sun.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:porpoise:x7:1
# text = One would have thought that Pinocchio had turned into a porpoise playing in the sun.
1	One	one	PRON	PRP	PronType=Ind	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	porpoise	porpoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | would · perfect · passive |  | One |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | past · perfect | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  | into a porpoise *result* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into porpoise=Result |
| 3 | **play** | gerund | a porpoise *not said here* |  |  | the sun. |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: 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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