---
title: predatory — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «predatory» in the school dictionary: Living by hunting and eating other animals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/predatory/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / predatory

# predatory

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Owls, predatory birds, Sharks, predatory adult, you, anyone · **What happens:** live, hunt, eat, try, use, harm · **To what, where:** other animals, weaker people, others, predatory birds, predatory fish, child · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Living by hunting and eating other animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:m1:1
# text = Living by hunting and eating other animals.
1	Living	live	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	hunting	hunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hunt** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **eat** | gerund |  | other animals |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=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: people — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying to use or harm others for gain, especially weaker people: predatory lenders, predatory adults online.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:m2:1
# text = Trying to use or harm others for gain, especially weaker people: predatory lenders, predatory adults online.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	gain	gain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	lenders	lender	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
19	online	online	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  | weaker people |  |  |  | predatory lenders and predatory adults *obl* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **use** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **harm** | infinitive |  | others |  |  |  | for gain | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus other=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owls are predatory birds that hunt at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x1:1
# text = Owls are predatory birds that hunt at night.
1	Owls	owl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Owls | predatory birds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hunt** | present | predatory birds |  |  |  | night |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sharks are predatory fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x2:1
# text = Sharks are predatory fish.
1	Sharks	shark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sharks | predatory fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A predatory adult may pretend to be a child online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x3:1
# text = A predatory adult may pretend to be a child online.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	pretend	pretend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	_
10	online	online	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | may | a predatory adult |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | a predatory adult *not said here* | a child |  |  |  | online *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell a grown-up if anyone online asks you to keep secrets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x4:1
# text = Tell a grown-up if anyone online asks you to keep secrets.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	grown	grown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	online	online	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a grown |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent grown=Recipient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* *a condition, not said to happen* | present | anyone |  | you |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | anyone *not said here* | secrets |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The predatory spider waits for flies in its web.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x5:1
# text = The predatory spider waits for flies in its web.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	waits	wait	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | present | the predatory spider |  |  |  |  | for flies in spider's web | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some loan companies are predatory and charge huge interest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:predatory:x6:1
# text = Some loan companies are predatory and charge huge interest.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	loan	loan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	companies	company	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	predatory	predatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	charge	charge	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	interest	interest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some loan companies |  |  |  |  | predatory *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **charge** | present | some loan companies *not said here* | huge interest |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location interest=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [predator](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/predator/)
- next →: [predecessor](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/predecessor/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)