---
title: skua — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skua» in the school dictionary: A large brown seabird of cold northern and southern seas that often chases other seabirds to make them drop or bring up their food, and attacks people who come near its nest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skua

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, seas, people, skua, Great skuas, we · **What happens:** chase, make, drop, bring up, attack, come · **To what, where:** other seabirds, seas, food, people, nest, puffin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large brown seabird of cold northern and southern seas that often chases other seabirds to make them drop or bring up their food, and attacks people who come near its nest.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:m1:1
# text = A large brown seabird of cold northern and southern seas that often chases other seabirds to make them drop or bring up their food, and attacks people who come near its nest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	seabird	seabird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
7	northern	northern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	seas	sea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	chases	chase	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	seabirds	seabird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
18	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	drop	drop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	conj	_	_
22	up	up	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	attacks	attack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
28	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obj	_	_
29	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	30	nsubj	_	_
30	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	acl:relcl	_	_
31	near	near	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	33	nmod:poss	_	_
33	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chase** | present | that | other seabirds |  |  |  | often *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seabird=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* | seas *= sea* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **drop** | infinitive | seas *= sea* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **bring up** | infinitive | seas *= sea* *not said here* | seas's food |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 5 | **attack** | present | that *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 6 | **come** | present | people |  |  | food's nest |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near nest=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skua chased the puffin until it dropped its fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x1:1
# text = A skua chased the puffin until it dropped its fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skua	skua	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chased	chase	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	puffin	puffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chase** | past | a skua | the puffin |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puffin=Theme |
| 2 | **drop** | past | skua | skua's fish |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great skuas live on the islands of Shetland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x2:1
# text = Great skuas live on the islands of Shetland.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	skuas	skua	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	islands	island	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Shetland	Shetland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Great skuas |  |  | the islands of Shetland |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on island=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skua swooped at our heads because we were near its nest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x3:1
# text = The skua swooped at our heads because we were near its nest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skua	skua	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swooped	swoop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	near	near	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swoop** | past | the skua |  |  | our heads |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | we |  |  | skua's nest |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Antarctica, skuas steal penguin eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x4:1
# text = In Antarctica, skuas steal penguin eggs.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Antarctica	Antarctica	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	skuas	skua	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	steal	steal	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	penguin	penguin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | present | skuas | penguin eggs |  | Antarctica |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location egg=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skuas are called the pirates of the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x5:1
# text = Skuas are called the pirates of the sea.
1	Skuas	skua	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	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	xcomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Skuas |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skua is brown and about the size of a big gull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skua:x6:1
# text = The skua is brown and about the size of a big gull.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skua	skua	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	gull	gull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the skua |  |  |  |  | brown *property* | 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.

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