---
title: seashell — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «seashell» in the school dictionary: The hard empty shell of a sea animal, such as a snail, clam, mussel or scallop, often found on the beach. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# seashell

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, She, you, Hermit crabs, seashell, he · **What happens:** find, collect, sell, hold, seem, hear · **To what, where:** snail, beach, seashells, seashell, sea, old seashells

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hard empty shell of a sea animal, such as a snail, clam, mussel or scallop, often found on the beach.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:m1:1
# text = The hard empty shell of a sea animal, such as a snail, clam, mussel or scallop, often found on the beach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	clam	clam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	mussel	mussel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	scallop	scallop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
23	on	on	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | participle |  | a snail and clam and mussel or scallop *not said here* |  | the beach |  | often *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We collected seashells on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x1:1
# text = We collected seashells on the beach.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	seashells	seashell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | We | seashells |  | the beach |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seashell=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sells seashells by the seashore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x2:1
# text = She sells seashells by the seashore.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	seashells	seashell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	seashore	seashore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | She | seashells |  |  |  | by the seashore | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seashell=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold a seashell to your ear and you seem to hear the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x3:1
# text = Hold a seashell to your ear and you seem to hear the sea.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seashell	seashell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | a seashell |  |  |  | to your ear | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seashell=Theme |
| 2 | **seem** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **hear** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the sea |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer sea=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hermit crabs live in old seashells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x4:1
# text = Hermit crabs live in old seashells.
1	Hermit	hermit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	crabs	crab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	seashells	seashell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Hermit crabs |  |  | old seashells |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in seashell=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sorted the seashells by size and colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x5:1
# text = We sorted the seashells by size and colour.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sorted	sort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	seashells	seashell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort** | past | We | the seashells |  |  |  | by size and colour | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seashell=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The seashell was spiral like a snail's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x6:1
# text = The seashell was spiral like a snail's.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seashell	seashell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the seashell |  |  |  |  | like a snail; spiral *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Disappearing within his teepee, he came out again with some huge seashells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seashell:x7:1
# text = Disappearing within his teepee, he came out again with some huge seashells.
1	Disappearing	disappear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
2	within	within	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	teepee	teepee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
12	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	seashells	seashell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disappear** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | within his teepee | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come out** | past | he |  |  |  | again | with some huge seashells; out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |

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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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