---
title: retriever — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retriever» in the school dictionary: A retriever is a kind of dog bred to fetch and bring back birds that hunters have shot, for example the golden retriever and the Labrador retriever. 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/R/retriever/)

<!-- 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/) / [R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/) / retriever

# retriever

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** retriever, dog, golden retriever, tennis club, Retrievers · **What happens:** be, breed, fetch, bring back, shoot, love · **To what, where:** kind, birds, anyone, things, swimming, lake

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A retriever is a kind of dog bred to fetch and bring back birds that hunters have shot, for example the golden retriever and the Labrador retriever.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:m1:1
# text = A retriever is a kind of dog bred to fetch and bring back birds that hunters have shot, for example the golden retriever and the Labrador retriever.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	retriever	retriever	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	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	bred	breed	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	fetch	fetch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	hunters	hunter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
17	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	shot	shoot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	appos	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	Labrador	Labrador	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	compound	_	_
28	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a retriever | a kind |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **breed** | past | dog | a kind *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fetch** | to-infinitive | dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **bring back** | infinitive | dog *not said here* |  | birds |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument bird=Destination |
| 5 | **shoot** | present · perfect · passive |  | birds |  |  |  | for example | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=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 -->
A retriever is anyone or anything that fetches and brings things back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:m2:1
# text = A retriever is anyone or anything that fetches and brings things back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fetches	fetch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a retriever | anyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fetch** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **bring back** | present |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our golden retriever loves swimming in the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x1:1
# text = Our golden retriever loves swimming in the lake.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lake	lake	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 | **love** | present | Our golden retriever | swimming |  | the lake |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer swimming=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The retriever brought the stick back and dropped it at my feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x2:1
# text = The retriever brought the stick back and dropped it at my feet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring back** | past | the retriever | the stick |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent stick=Theme |
| 2 | **drop** | past | the retriever *not said here* | stick |  | my feet |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme at foot=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Labrador retrievers are often trained as guide dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x3:1
# text = Labrador retrievers are often trained as guide dogs.
1	Labrador	labrador	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	retrievers	retriever	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	guide	guide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | present · passive |  | Labrador retrievers |  |  |  | as guide dogs; often *property* | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme as dog=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A retriever has a soft mouth, so it carries things gently.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x4:1
# text = A retriever has a soft mouth, so it carries things gently.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a retriever | a soft mouth |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mouth=Patient |
| 2 | **carry** | present | retriever | things |  |  |  | gently *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tennis club has a ball retriever on a stick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x5:1
# text = The tennis club has a ball retriever on a stick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the tennis club | a ball retriever |  | a stick |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent retriever=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Retrievers need lots of exercise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x6:1
# text = Retrievers need lots of exercise.
1	Retrievers	retriever	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Retrievers | lots of exercise |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot lot=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin's retriever has golden fur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retriever:x7:1
# text = My cousin's retriever has golden fur.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	retriever	retriever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My cousin's retriever | golden fur |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fur=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 -->

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