---
title: shell — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shell» in the school dictionary: A shell is the hard outer cover of a sea animal like a snail, clam or crab; people find shells on beaches. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shell

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** shell, people, Anna, Zoe, Tom, snail · **What happens:** be, find, have, lose, collect, carry · **To what, where:** hard outer cover, shells, beaches, hard outside, anything, 7 shells

<!-- .vabout -->
«shell» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [shell in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shell.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shell is the hard outer cover of a sea animal like a snail, clam or crab; people find shells on beaches.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:m1:1
# text = A shell is the hard outer cover of a sea animal like a snail, clam or crab; people find shells on beaches.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	clam	clam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	crab	crab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
22	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
23	on	on	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	beaches	beach	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shell | the hard outer cover |  |  |  | of a sea animal like a snail and clam or crab | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | present | people | shells |  | beaches |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
A shell is the hard outside of an egg, a nut, a tortoise or a turtle.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:m2:1
# text = A shell is the hard outside of an egg, a nut, a tortoise or a turtle.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	outside	outside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	nut	nut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	turtle	turtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shell | the hard outside and a tortoise or a turtle |  |  |  | of a egg and a nut | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shell is anything like a hard outer case: the shell of a building.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:m3:1
# text = A shell is anything like a hard outer case: the shell of a building.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shell | anything |  |  |  | like a hard outer case | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shell nuts or peas is to take them out of their shells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:m4:1
# text = To shell nuts or peas is to take them out of their shells.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	peas	pea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  | peas's shells |  | shell nuts or peas *obl*; take *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anna had 7 shells and lost 5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x1:1
# text = Anna had 7 shells and lost 5.
1	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Anna | 7 shells |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** | past | Anna *not said here* | 5 |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 5=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zoe found 12 shells on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x2:1
# text = Zoe found 12 shells on the beach.
1	Zoe	Zoe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	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 | **find** | past | Zoe | 12 shells |  | the beach |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom collects 4 shells every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x3:1
# text = Tom collects 4 shells every day.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collects	collect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | present | Tom | 4 shells |  |  | day |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snail carries its shell on its back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x4:1
# text = A snail carries its shell on its back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | a snail | snail's shell |  | snail's back |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crack the egg and throw away the shell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x5:1
# text = Crack the egg and throw away the shell.
1	Crack	crack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	throw	throw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crack** | imperative | you *not said here* | the egg |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location egg=Theme |
| 2 | **throw away** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the shell |  |  |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A turtle hides inside its shell when it is scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x6:1
# text = A turtle hides inside its shell when it is scared.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	turtle	turtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hides	hide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | present | a turtle |  |  | turtle's shell |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent inside shell=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | turtle |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We shelled peas for dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x7:1
# text = We shelled peas for dinner.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shelled	shell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	peas	pea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shell** | past | We | peas |  |  |  | for dinner | vn pelt-17.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pea=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold a big shell to your ear and listen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x8:1
# text = Hold a big shell to your ear and listen.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	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 big shell |  |  |  | to your ear | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Theme |
| 2 | **listen** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crack went the egg-shell, as a waggon passed over it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shell:x9:1
# text = Crack went the egg-shell, as a waggon passed over it.
1	Crack	crack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	waggon	waggon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	over	over	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Crack | the egg shell |  |  |  | as a waggon | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pass** | participle |  | a waggon *not said here* |  | Crack |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme over it=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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