---
title: sawfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sawfish» in the school dictionary: A sawfish is a large ray, a kind of flat fish related to sharks, with a long flat snout edged with sharp teeth like a saw. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sawfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sawfish, It, some, we, teeth · **What happens:** be, edge, use, find, stun, slash · **To what, where:** large ray, long flat snout, saw, small fish, mud, long saw

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sawfish is a large ray, a kind of flat fish related to sharks, with a long flat snout edged with sharp teeth like a saw.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:m1:1
# text = A sawfish is a large ray, a kind of flat fish related to sharks, with a long flat snout edged with sharp teeth like a saw.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ray	ray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	sharks	shark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
20	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
22	edged	edge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
23	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	_
26	like	like	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	saw	saw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sawfish | a large ray and a kind of flat fish and a long flat snout |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **edge** | participle |  | a long flat snout *not said here* |  |  |  | with sharp teeth like a saw | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with tooth=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 -->
It uses its saw to find, stun and slash small fish and to dig for food in mud.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:m2:1
# text = It uses its saw to find, stun and slash small fish and to dig for food in mud.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	saw	saw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	stun	stun	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slash	slash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | It | its saw |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent saw=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **stun** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **slash** | infinitive |  | small fish |  |  |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Patient |
| 5 | **dig** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | mud |  | for food | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for food=Theme in mud=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sawfish swung its long saw through a shoal of little fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x1:1
# text = The sawfish swung its long saw through a shoal of little fish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swung	swing	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	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	saw	saw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swing** | past | the sawfish | sawfish's long saw |  | a shoal of little fish |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent saw=Theme through shoal=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sawfish can grow longer than a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x2:1
# text = A sawfish can grow longer than a car.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	longer	long	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	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | can | a sawfish |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sawfish is a kind of ray, not a shark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x3:1
# text = The sawfish is a kind of ray, not a shark.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sawfish	sawfish	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	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	ray	ray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the sawfish | a kind and a shark |  |  |  | of ray | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sawfish live in warm seas and some even swim up rivers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x4:1
# text = Sawfish live in warm seas and some even swim up rivers.
1	Sawfish	sawfish	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	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	even	even	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Sawfish |  |  | warm seas |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Location |
| 2 | **swim up** | present | some | rivers |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme river=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sawfish are endangered because their saws get tangled in nets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x5:1
# text = Sawfish are endangered because their saws get tangled in nets.
1	Sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	endangered	endangered	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	saws	saw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	get	get	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	tangled	tangle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	nets	net	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Sawfish |  |  |  |  | endangered *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tangle** | present · passive |  | Sawfish's saws |  | nets |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the aquarium we watched a sawfish glide along the bottom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x6:1
# text = At the aquarium we watched a sawfish glide along the bottom.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	aquarium	aquarium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	glide	glide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	along	along	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | we | a sawfish glide |  | the aquarium |  | along the bottom | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent glide=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teeth on a sawfish's snout are really special scales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sawfish:x7:1
# text = The teeth on a sawfish's snout are really special scales.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sawfish	sawfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	snout	snout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	really	really	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the teeth on a sawfish's snout | special scales |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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