---
title: shoebill — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shoebill» in the school dictionary: A very large grey bird of the swamps of East Africa with a huge bill shaped like a wooden shoe, which it uses to catch fish, lungfish and even baby crocodiles. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shoebill

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** shoe, shoebill, hours, Shoebills, Visitors · **What happens:** shape, use, catch, have, stand, wait · **To what, where:** huge bill, wooden shoe, fish, bill, swamps, noise

<!-- .vabout -->
«shoebill» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 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: [shoebill in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shoebill.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very large grey bird of the swamps of East Africa with a huge bill shaped like a wooden shoe, which it uses to catch fish, lungfish and even baby crocodiles.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:m1:1
# text = A very large grey bird of the swamps of East Africa with a huge bill shaped like a wooden shoe, which it uses to catch fish, lungfish and even baby crocodiles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	swamps	swamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	bill	bill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
16	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	24	obj	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
29	lungfish	lungfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	conj	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
31	even	even	ADV	RB	_	33	advmod	_	_
32	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	_
33	crocodiles	crocodile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  | a huge bill *not said here* |  |  |  | like a wooden shoe | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **use** | present | shoe | a wooden shoe |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent which=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive | shoe *not said here* | fish and lungfish and baby crocodiles |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shoebill has a bill shaped like a big shoe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x1:1
# text = The shoebill has a bill shaped like a big shoe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoebill	shoebill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bill	bill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the shoebill | a bill |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bill=Patient |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  | a bill *not said here* |  |  |  | like a big shoe | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A shoebill can stand still for hours waiting for a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x2:1
# text = A shoebill can stand still for hours waiting for a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoebill	shoebill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | can | a shoebill |  |  |  | still; hour |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wait** | gerund | hours *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a fish | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoebills live in the swamps of Uganda and South Sudan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x3:1
# text = Shoebills live in the swamps of Uganda and South Sudan.
1	Shoebills	shoebill	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	swamps	swamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Uganda	Uganda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	Sudan	Sudan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Shoebills |  |  | the swamps of Uganda and South |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in swamp=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shoebill clatters its bill to make a noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x4:1
# text = The shoebill clatters its bill to make a noise.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shoebill	shoebill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clatters	clatter	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	bill	bill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clatter** | present | the shoebill | shoebill's bill |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bill=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the shoebill *not said here* | a noise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |
| 3 | **bill** |  | shoebill |  |  |  |  |  | nom bill «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Visitors at the zoo stared at the shoebill's grumpy face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x5:1
# text = Visitors at the zoo stared at the shoebill's grumpy face.
1	Visitors	visitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shoebill	shoebill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	grumpy	grumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare** | past | Visitors at the zoo |  |  |  |  | at the shoebill's grumpy face | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at face=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoebills are tall, about as tall as a child.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shoebill:x6:1
# text = Shoebills are tall, about as tall as a child.
1	Shoebills	shoebill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Shoebills |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Shoebills *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as a child; about *property* | tree rules |

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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.

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