---
title: shoal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shoal» in the school dictionary: A shoal is a large group of fish swimming together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shoal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** shoal, fish, that, dolphins, ship, Shoals · **What happens:** be, swim, flash, stay, herd, run · **To what, where:** large group, shallow place, sea, large number, shoals, sharks

<!-- .vabout -->
«shoal» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [shoal in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shoal.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shoal is a large group of fish swimming together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:m1:1
# text = A shoal is a large group of fish swimming together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoal	shoal	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	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shoal | a large group |  |  |  | of fish | tree rules |
| 2 | **swim** | gerund | fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
A shoal is also a shallow place in a sea or river, often a sandbank, that can be dangerous for boats.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:m2:1
# text = A shoal is also a shallow place in a sea or river, often a sandbank, that can be dangerous for boats.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	sandbank	sandbank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	21	nsubj	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
20	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	cop	_	_
21	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
22	for	for	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shoal | a shallow place and a sandbank |  | a sea or river |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | can | that |  |  |  |  | for boats; dangerous *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shoal of things is a large number of them: shoals of letters.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:m3:1
# text = A shoal of things is a large number of them: shoals of letters.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a shoal of things | a large number |  |  |  | of things *= thing*; shoals of letters *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shoal of silver fish flashed past the boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x1:1
# text = A shoal of silver fish flashed past the boat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	flashed	flash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	past	past	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flash** | past | a shoal of silver fish |  |  |  |  | past the boat | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish swim in shoals to stay safe from sharks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x2:1
# text = Fish swim in shoals to stay safe from sharks.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sharks	shark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Fish |  |  | shoals |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in shoal=Trajectory |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive | Fish *not said here* |  |  | sharks |  | safe *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dolphins herded the shoal of sardines into a ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x3:1
# text = The dolphins herded the shoal of sardines into a ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	herded	herd	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sardines	sardine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **herd** | past | the dolphins | the shoal of sardines |  |  |  | into a ball | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent shoal=Patient into ball=Co-Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship ran aground on a hidden shoal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x4:1
# text = The ship ran aground on a hidden shoal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	aground	aground	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	shoal	shoal	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 | **run** | past | the ship |  |  | a hidden shoal |  | aground *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on shoal=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoals of mackerel came close to the shore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x5:1
# text = Shoals of mackerel came close to the shore.
1	Shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	mackerel	mackerel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shore	shore	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 | **come** | past | Shoals of mackerel |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lighthouse warns sailors about the shoals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x6:1
# text = The lighthouse warns sailors about the shoals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lighthouse	lighthouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warns	warn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | the lighthouse | sailors |  |  |  | about the shoals | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP PP.topic»: agent=Agent sailor=Recipient about shoal=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Men can’t come down the cliffs, even if there were any men; and the shoals to seaward would knock a ship to splinters.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoal:x7:1
# text = Men can’t come down the cliffs, even if there were any men; and the shoals to seaward would knock a ship to splinters.
1	Men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	even	even	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	12	expl	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	seaward	seaward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	knock	knock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	to	to	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	splinters	splinter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **come down** | can | Men | the cliffs |  |  |  | down *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past |  | any men |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **knock** | would | the shoals to seaward | a ship |  | splinters |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent ship=Theme to splinter=Destination |

<!-- 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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