---
title: sardine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sardine» in the school dictionary: A sardine is a small, silvery sea fish, often eaten from a tin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sardine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sardine, We, bus, Dolphins, tin, Sardines · **What happens:** be, eat, pack, mean, squash, have · **To what, where:** small silvery sea fish, tin, sardines, toast, we, shoals · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sardine is a small, silvery sea fish, often eaten from a tin.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:m1:1
# text = A sardine is a small, silvery sea fish, often eaten from a tin.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sardine	sardine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	silvery	silvery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sardine | a small silvery sea fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  | a small silvery sea fish *not said here* |  | a tin |  | often *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from tin=Source |

<!-- .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: idiom — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Packed like sardines» means squashed very tightly together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:m2:1
# text = «Packed like sardines» means squashed very tightly together.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Packed	pack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	csubj	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	squashed	squash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like sardines | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **squash** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had sardines on toast for tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x1:1
# text = We had sardines on toast for tea.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	toast	toast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tea	tea	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 | **have** | past | We | sardines |  | toast |  | for tea | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sardine=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus was full; we were packed like sardines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x2:1
# text = The bus was full; we were packed like sardines.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	packed	pack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the bus |  |  |  |  | full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pack** | past · passive |  | we |  |  |  | like sardines | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: subject=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins chase shoals of sardines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x3:1
# text = Dolphins chase shoals of sardines.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	chase	chase	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chase** | present | Dolphins | shoals of sardines |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoal=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tin holds 6 sardines; how many in 4 tins? (24)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A tin holds 6 sardines; how many in 4 tins?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x4:1
# text = A tin holds 6 sardines; how many in 4 tins?
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	tins	tin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a tin | 6 sardines |  |  |  | many in 4 tins *obl* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sardine=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (24)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x4:2
# text = (24)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	24	24	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the party we played sardines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x5:1
# text = At the party we played sardines.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | we | sardines |  | the party |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sardine=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sardines are oily fish and are good for you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x6:1
# text = Sardines are oily fish and are good for you.
1	Sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	oily	oily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sardines | oily fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Sardines *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for you; good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In fact the wagon was so closely packed with boys of all ages that it looked like a box of sardines.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sardine:x7:1
# text = In fact the wagon was so closely packed with boys of all ages that it looked like a box of sardines.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wagon	wagon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	packed	pack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** | past · passive |  | the wagon |  | fact |  | with boys of all ages; closely *property* | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in fact=Destination |
| 2 | **look** | past | wagon |  |  |  |  | like a box of sardines | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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