---
title: sailfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sailfish» in the school dictionary: A sailfish is a big ocean fish with a tall fin on its back that looks like a sail and a long pointed bill like a sword. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sailfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sailfish, back, It, We, fisherman · **What happens:** be, look, point, hunt, raise, swim · **To what, where:** big ocean fish, one, smaller fish, huge blue fin, long bills, little fish

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sailfish is a big ocean fish with a tall fin on its back that looks like a sail and a long pointed bill like a sword.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:m1:1
# text = A sailfish is a big ocean fish with a tall fin on its back that looks like a sail and a long pointed bill like a sword.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	sail	sail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
22	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
23	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	24	amod	_	_
24	bill	bill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
25	like	like	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sailfish | a big ocean fish |  |  |  | with a tall fin on sailfish's back | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | sailfish's back |  |  |  |  | like a sail and a long pointed bill like a sword | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
It is one of the fastest fish in the sea and hunts smaller fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:m2:1
# text = It is one of the fastest fish in the sea and hunts smaller fish.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fastest	fast	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	hunts	hunt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	_
14	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | one |  |  |  | of the fastest fish in the sea | tree rules |
| 2 | **hunt** | present |  | smaller fish |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sailfish raised its huge blue fin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x1:1
# text = The sailfish raised its huge blue fin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	raised	raise	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	7	nmod:poss	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fin	fin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | past | the sailfish | sailfish's huge blue fin |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fin=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sailfish can swim faster than a car on a town street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x2:1
# text = A sailfish can swim faster than a car on a town street.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | can | a sailfish |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailfish use their long bills to stun little fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x3:1
# text = Sailfish use their long bills to stun little fish.
1	Sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bills	bill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stun	stun	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Sailfish | Sailfish's long bills |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bill=Patient |
| 2 | **stun** | to-infinitive | Sailfish *not said here* | little fish |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fish=Experiencer |
| 3 | **bill** |  | Sailfish |  |  |  |  |  | nom bill «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a video of sailfish hunting sardines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x4:1
# text = We watched a video of sailfish hunting sardines.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	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	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	hunting	hunt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | a video of sailfish |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent video=Theme |
| 2 | **hunt** | gerund | sailfish *not said here* | sardines |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sardine=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fisherman caught a sailfish and let it go again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x5:1
# text = The fisherman caught a sailfish and let it go again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fisherman	fisherman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the fisherman | a sailfish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sailfish=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | the fisherman *not said here* | sailfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | sailfish *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailfish live in warm oceans around the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sailfish:x6:1
# text = Sailfish live in warm oceans around the world.
1	Sailfish	sailfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	oceans	ocean	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Sailfish |  |  | warm oceans |  | around the world | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in ocean=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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