---
title: serval — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «serval» in the school dictionary: A slim wild cat of African grasslands, with long legs, very large ears and a golden coat with black spots and stripes. It leaps high to catch birds and rodents. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# serval

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** coat, serval, huge ears, We, Servals · **What happens:** leap, catch, have, help, hear, see · **To what, where:** birds, longest legs, air, bird, serval, mice

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A slim wild cat of African grasslands, with long legs, very large ears and a golden coat with black spots and stripes. It leaps high to catch birds and rodents.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A slim wild cat of African grasslands, with long legs, very large ears and a golden coat with black spots and stripes.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:m1:1
# text = A slim wild cat of African grasslands, with long legs, very large ears and a golden coat with black spots and stripes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	slim	slim	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	grasslands	grassland	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	very	very	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It leaps high to catch birds and rodents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:m1:2
# text = It leaps high to catch birds and rodents.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	leaps	leap	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	rodents	rodent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leap** | present | coat |  |  |  |  | high *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | coat *not said here* | birds and rodents |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The serval has the longest legs for its size of any cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x1:1
# text = The serval has the longest legs for its size of any cat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serval	serval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	longest	long	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the serval | the longest legs |  |  |  | for serval's size of any cat | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A serval can leap high into the air to catch a bird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x2:1
# text = A serval can leap high into the air to catch a bird.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serval	serval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	leap	leap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leap** | can | a serval |  |  | the air |  | high *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into air=Destination |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a serval *not said here* | a bird |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its huge ears help the serval hear mice under the grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x3:1
# text = Its huge ears help the serval hear mice under the grass.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	serval	serval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Its huge ears | the serval |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent serval=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | infinitive | the serval *not said here* | mice |  | the grass |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer mouse=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a serval at the wildlife park in Kent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x4:1
# text = We saw a serval at the wildlife park in Kent.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	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	serval	serval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wildlife	wildlife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Kent	Kent	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a serval |  | the wildlife park in Kent |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer serval=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Servals live in the grasslands of Africa near water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x5:1
# text = Servals live in the grasslands of Africa near water.
1	Servals	serval	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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	grasslands	grassland	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	near	near	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Servals |  |  | the grasslands of Africa |  | near water | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in grassland=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The serval's coat has black spots on gold, a bit like a cheetah's.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x6:1
# text = The serval's coat has black spots on gold, a bit like a cheetah's.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serval	serval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	cheetah	cheetah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the serval's coat | black spots |  | gold |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spot=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A serval is a wild animal and does not make a good house pet.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serval:x7:1
# text = A serval is a wild animal and does not make a good house pet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serval	serval	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	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a serval | a wild animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **make** | present · do-support | a serval *not said here* | a good house pet |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pet=Product |

<!-- 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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