---
title: possum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possum» in the school dictionary: A possum is an Australian and New Zealand marsupial (an animal with a pouch) that lives in trees and comes out at night. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# possum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** possum, that, Possums, opossum, brother, We · **What happens:** be, live, come out, play, mean, pretend · **To what, where:** Australian marsupial, trees, short name, possum, roof, babies · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«possum» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [possum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A possum is an Australian and New Zealand marsupial (an animal with a pouch) that lives in trees and comes out at night.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:m1:1
# text = A possum is an Australian and New Zealand marsupial (an animal with a pouch) that lives in trees and comes out at night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
8	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	marsupial	marsupial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pouch	pouch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
23	out	out	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	_
24	at	at	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a possum | a Australian marsupial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | that |  |  | trees |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in tree=Location |
| 3 | **come out** | present | that *not said here* |  |  |  | night |  | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Possum is the short name for opossum, an American animal with a pouch.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:m2:1
# text = Possum is the short name for opossum, an American animal with a pouch.
1	Possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	pouch	pouch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Possum | the short name |  |  |  | for opossum | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Play possum» means to pretend to be asleep or dead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:m3:1
# text = «Play possum» means to pretend to be asleep or dead.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	pretend	pretend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | possum |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possum=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **pretend** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | asleep *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A possum climbed onto our roof at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x1:1
# text = A possum climbed onto our roof at night.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | a possum |  |  | our roof | night |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto roof=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Possums carry babies in a pouch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x2:1
# text = Possums carry babies in a pouch.
1	Possums	possum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pouch	pouch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | Possums | babies |  | a pouch |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent baby=Value in pouch=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In New Zealand, possums eat birds' eggs and trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x3:1
# text = In New Zealand, possums eat birds' eggs and trees.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	possums	possum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | possums | birds's eggs and trees |  | New Zealand |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opossum, or possum, lives in America.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x4:1
# text = The opossum, or possum, lives in America.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | the opossum or possum |  |  | America |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in america=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother played possum so he wouldn't have to get up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x5:1
# text = My brother played possum so he wouldn't have to get up.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | My brother | possum |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possum=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **have** | would | brother |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get up** | to-infinitive | brother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard possums in the gum tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x6:1
# text = We heard possums in the gum tree.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	possums	possum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	gum	gum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tree	tree	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 | **hear** | past | We | possums |  | the gum tree |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer possum=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Australia) «G'day, possum» is a friendly name for someone you like.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x7:1
# text = (Australia) «G'day, possum» is a friendly name for someone you like.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	G'day	G'day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Australia and G'day and possum | a friendly name |  |  |  | for someone | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The possum's eyes shone in the torch light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possum:x8:1
# text = The possum's eyes shone in the torch light.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	possum	possum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | past | the possum's eyes |  |  | the torch light |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in light=Location |

<!-- 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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