---
title: scaly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scaly» in the school dictionary: Covered with scales, the small hard flat plates on fish, snakes and lizards. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scaly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dry skin, Snakes, dragon, Reptiles, legs, hands · **What happens:** cover, peel, have, be, get, feel · **To what, where:** scaly skin, long scaly tail, thick scaly backs, great green scaly side, breath, long way

<!-- .vabout -->
«scaly» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [scaly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scaly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Covered with scales, the small hard flat plates on fish, snakes and lizards.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:m1:1
# text = Covered with scales, the small hard flat plates on fish, snakes and lizards.
1	Covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	scales	scale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	snakes	snake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	lizards	lizard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with scales and the small hard flat plates on fish and snakes and lizards | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with scale=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 -->
Dry and flaky, like skin that is peeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:m2:1
# text = Dry and flaky, like skin that is peeling.
1	Dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	flaky	flaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	peeling	peel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **peel** | present · progressive | Dry skin |  |  |  |  |  | vn pit-10.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"scaly skin".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:m2e:1
# text = "scaly skin".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snakes have scaly skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x1:1
# text = Snakes have scaly skin.
1	Snakes	snake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Snakes | scaly skin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon had a long scaly tail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x2:1
# text = The dragon had a long scaly tail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tail	tail	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 | **have** | past | the dragon | a long scaly tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reptiles are scaly and lay eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x3:1
# text = Reptiles are scaly and lay eggs.
1	Reptiles	reptile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	lay	lay	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Reptiles |  |  |  |  | scaly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bird's legs are scaly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x4:1
# text = A bird's legs are scaly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a bird's legs |  |  |  |  | scaly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My hands get dry and scaly in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x5:1
# text = My hands get dry and scaly in winter.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | My hands |  |  |  |  | dry *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crocodiles have thick scaly backs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x6:1
# text = Crocodiles have thick scaly backs.
1	Crocodiles	crocodile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	backs	back	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Crocodiles | thick scaly backs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent back=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish felt cool and scaly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x7:1
# text = The fish felt cool and scaly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the fish |  |  |  |  | cool *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And he lay there on his great green scaly side, panting, and very much out of breath, because he had come such a long way.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scaly:x8:1
# text = And he lay there on his great green scaly side, panting, and very much out of breath, because he had come such a long way.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
7	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	scaly	scaly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	panting	pant	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
15	very	very	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	much	much	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
22	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
23	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
24	come	come	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
25	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	28	det:predet	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | he |  |  | his great green scaly side; there |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on side=Location |
| 2 | **pant** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  | breath |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **come** | past · perfect | he | such long way |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**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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