---
title: songbird — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «songbird» in the school dictionary: A songbird is a small bird that sings tuneful songs, such as a robin, blackbird, thrush, nightingale or wren. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# songbird

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** songbird, small bird, Robins, We, Male songbirds, this · **What happens:** be, sing, call, hang, help, say · **To what, where:** small bird, tuneful songs, person, fence, songbirds, feeder · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A songbird is a small bird that sings tuneful songs, such as a robin, blackbird, thrush, nightingale or wren.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:m1:1
# text = A songbird is a small bird that sings tuneful songs, such as a robin, blackbird, thrush, nightingale or wren.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	songbird	songbird	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	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sings	sing	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	tuneful	tuneful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	songs	song	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	robin	robin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	blackbird	blackbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	thrush	thrush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	nightingale	nightingale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a songbird | a small bird |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | a small bird | tuneful songs and a robin and blackbird and thrush and nightingale or wren |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person, usually a woman, with a lovely singing voice is sometimes called a songbird.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:m2:1
# text = A person, usually a woman, with a lovely singing voice is sometimes called a songbird.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	singing	singing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
14	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	15	advmod	_	_
15	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	songbird	songbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A songbird was singing on the fence at dawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x1:1
# text = A songbird was singing on the fence at dawn.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	songbird	songbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past · progressive | a songbird |  |  | the fence | dawn |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on fence=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Robins and blackbirds are songbirds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x2:1
# text = Robins and blackbirds are songbirds.
1	Robins	robin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	blackbirds	blackbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	songbirds	songbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Robins and blackbirds | songbirds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We hung a feeder to help the songbirds in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x3:1
# text = We hung a feeder to help the songbirds in winter.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeder	feeder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	songbirds	songbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | past | We | a feeder |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeder=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the songbirds |  |  | winter |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent songbird=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Male songbirds sing to say «this is my patch».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x4:1
# text = Male songbirds sing to say «this is my patch».
1	Male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	songbirds	songbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	patch	patch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | Male songbirds |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Male songbirds *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | this | my patch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cats catch many songbirds in gardens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x5:1
# text = Cats catch many songbirds in gardens.
1	Cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	catch	catch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	songbirds	songbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	gardens	garden	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | present | Cats | many songbirds |  | gardens |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent songbird=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The concert star was called the nation's songbird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x6:1
# text = The concert star was called the nation's songbird.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nation	nation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	songbird	songbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dawn chorus is lots of songbirds singing together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:songbird:x7:1
# text = The dawn chorus is lots of songbirds singing together.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	chorus	chorus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	songbirds	songbird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	together	together	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the dawn chorus | lots |  |  |  | of songbirds | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | songbirds *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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