---
title: preen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preen» in the school dictionary: Of a bird: to clean and tidy its feathers with its beak. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# preen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, yourself, swan, Ducks, brother, parrot · **What happens:** clean, tidy, joke, disapprove, spend, make · **To what, where:** feathers, lot, yourself, pride, something, white feathers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a bird: to clean and tidy its feathers with its beak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:m1:1
# text = Of a bird: to clean and tidy its feathers with its beak.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	clean	clean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of a bird | vn clear-10.3 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent of bird=Source |
| 2 | **tidy** | infinitive |  | bird's feathers |  |  |  | with bird's beak | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Of a person (often joking or disapproving): to spend a lot of time making yourself look nice.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:m2:1
# text = Of a person (often joking or disapproving): to spend a lot of time making yourself look nice.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	disapproving	disapprove	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	spend	spend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
17	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
18	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	17	obj	_	_
19	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **disapprove** | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **spend** | to-infinitive |  | a lot of time |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Asset |
| 4 | **make** | gerund |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **look** | infinitive | yourself *not said here* |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To feel or show pride in yourself: preen yourself on something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:m3:1
# text = To feel or show pride in yourself: preen yourself on something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	feel	feel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	pride	pride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	preen	preen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	9	obj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **show** | infinitive |  | pride |  |  |  | in yourself | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent pride=Patient in yourself=Topic |
| 3 | **preen** | infinitive |  | yourself |  | something |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swan preened its white feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x1:1
# text = The swan preened its white feathers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swan	swan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preened	preen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preen** | past | the swan | swan's white feathers |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks preen to keep their feathers waterproof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x2:1
# text = Ducks preen to keep their feathers waterproof.
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	preen	preen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	waterproof	waterproof	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preen** | present | Ducks |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Ducks *not said here* | Ducks's feathers |  |  |  | waterproof *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother preened in front of the mirror before the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x3:1
# text = My brother preened in front of the mirror before the party.
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	preened	preen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mirror	mirror	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preen** | participle | My brother |  |  | front of the mirror | before the party |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The parrot preened itself on its perch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x4:1
# text = The parrot preened itself on its perch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	parrot	parrot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preened	preen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	perch	perch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preen** | past | the parrot | parrot |  | parrot's perch |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent itself=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She preened herself on winning the prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x5:1
# text = She preened herself on winning the prize.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	preened	preen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preen** | past | She | herself *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herself=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | gerund | She *not said here* | the prize |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prize=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop preening and come and eat!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x6:1
# text = Stop preening and come and eat!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	preening	preen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **preen** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **come** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **eat** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He turned sharply, and there, just above him on the branch of a tree, sat a large Parrot, busily preening his feathers.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preen:x7:1
# text = He turned sharply, and there, just above him on the branch of a tree, sat a large Parrot, busily preening his feathers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	above	above	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	parataxis	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	Parrot	parrot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	busily	busily	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	preening	preen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	18	advcl	_	_
25	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | He |  |  | the branch of a tree; there |  | sharply *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on branch=Trajectory |
| 2 | **sit** | past |  | a large Parrot |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location parrot=Theme |
| 3 | **preen** | gerund |  | Parrot's feathers |  |  |  | busily *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feather=Patient |

<!-- 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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