---
title: silverfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «silverfish» in the school dictionary: A silverfish is a small, shiny, silver-grey insect with no wings that wriggles like a fish and lives in damp corners of houses. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silverfish/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / silverfish

# silverfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** silverfish, that, It, insect, We · **What happens:** be, wriggle, live, dart, nibble, call · **To what, where:** small grey insect, damp corners, name, silverfish, bathroom floor, paper · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silverfish is a small, shiny, silver-grey insect with no wings that wriggles like a fish and lives in damp corners of houses.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:m1:1
# text = A silverfish is a small, shiny, silver-grey insect with no wings that wriggles like a fish and lives in damp corners of houses.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
9	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	15	det	_	_
15	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
17	wriggles	wriggle	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	parataxis	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	corners	corner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a silverfish | a small grey insect |  |  |  | with no wings | tree rules |
| 2 | **wriggle** | present | that |  |  |  |  | like a fish | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **live** | present | that *not said here* |  |  | damp corners of houses |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in corner=Location |

<!-- .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: rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silverfish is also a name for some small silvery fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:m2:1
# text = Silverfish is also a name for some small silvery fish.
1	Silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	silvery	silvery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Silverfish | a name |  |  |  | for small silvery fish | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silverfish darted across the bathroom floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x1:1
# text = A silverfish darted across the bathroom floor.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	darted	dart	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bathroom	bathroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dart** | participle |  | a silverfish *not said here* |  | the bathroom floor |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across floor=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silverfish like damp, dark places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x2:1
# text = Silverfish like damp, dark places.
1	Silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silverfish nibble paper, glue and old books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x3:1
# text = Silverfish nibble paper, glue and old books.
1	Silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nibble	nibble	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nibble** | present | Silverfish | paper and glue and old books |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paper=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is an insect even though it is called a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x4:1
# text = It is an insect even though it is called a fish.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	even	even	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a insect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive | a insect *not said here* | insect |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We spotted three silverfish under the sink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x5:1
# text = We spotted three silverfish under the sink.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spotted	spot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sink	sink	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 | **spot** | past | We | three silverfish |  | the sink |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent silverfish=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Silverfish are harmless to people but annoying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:silverfish:x6:1
# text = Silverfish are harmless to people but annoying.
1	Silverfish	silverfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Silverfish |  |  |  |  | to people; harmless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Silverfish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [silverback](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silverback/)
- next →: [silvery](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silvery/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)