---
title: shotgun — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shotgun» in the school dictionary: A long gun that fires many small metal balls at once, used for hunting birds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shotgun

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** long gun, Shotgun, children, front seat, I, brother · **What happens:** fire, use, be, shout, claim, sit · **To what, where:** many small metal balls, front, shotgun, foxes, gun, one · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«shotgun» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [shotgun in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shotgun.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long gun that fires many small metal balls at once, used for hunting birds.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:m1:1
# text = A long gun that fires many small metal balls at once, used for hunting birds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	fires	fire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	balls	ball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	hunting	hunting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fire** | present | a long gun | many small metal balls |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent ball=Theme at once=Destination |
| 2 | **use** | participle | a long gun *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for hunting birds | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US, Canada, Australia, slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Shotgun!» is what children shout to claim the front seat of a car.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:m2:1
# text = «Shotgun!» is what children shout to claim the front seat of a car.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	shout	shout	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	claim	claim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shotgun |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | present | children |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **claim** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | the front seat of a car |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shotgun! I'm sitting in the front!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Shotgun!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x1:1
# text = Shotgun!
1	Shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'm sitting in the front!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x1:2
# text = I'm sitting in the front!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present · progressive | I |  |  | the front |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in front=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother always calls shotgun first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x2:1
# text = My brother always calls shotgun first.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | My brother | shotgun |  |  |  | always, first *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent shotgun=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer kept a shotgun to scare foxes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x3:1
# text = The farmer kept a shotgun to scare foxes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the farmer | a shotgun |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shotgun=Theme |
| 2 | **scare** | to-infinitive | the farmer *not said here* | foxes |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fox=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never touch a gun if you find one; tell an adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x4:1
# text = Never touch a gun if you find one; tell an adult.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative | you *not said here* | a gun |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme gun=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **find** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | one |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He rode shotgun on the long trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x5:1
# text = He rode shotgun on the long trip.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	trip	trip	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 | **ride** | past | He | shotgun |  | the long trip |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shotgun=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shotguns are used to hunt ducks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x6:1
# text = Shotguns are used to hunt ducks.
1	Shotguns	shotgun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hunt	hunt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Shotguns |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **hunt** | to-infinitive |  | ducks |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent duck=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The big man had been wakened by the noise, and had fired both barrels of a shotgun into Nag just behind the hood.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shotgun:x7:1
# text = The big man had been wakened by the noise, and had fired both barrels of a shotgun into Nag just behind the hood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	wakened	waken	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	fired	fire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
14	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	15	det	_	_
15	barrels	barrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	shotgun	shotgun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
19	into	into	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Nag	Nag	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
21	just	just	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
22	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	hood	hood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **waken** | past · perfect · passive | the noise | the big man |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **fire** | past · perfect | the noise *not said here* | both barrels of a shotgun |  | Nag |  | behind the hood | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent barrel=Theme into nag=Destination |

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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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