---
title: sperm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sperm» in the school dictionary: A sperm is a tiny male cell made by male animals and men; when a sperm joins with an egg cell from a female, a new baby animal or baby human can start to grow. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sperm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sperm, male cells, baby, sperm cell, tail, Half · **What happens:** be, make, join, start, grow, carry · **To what, where:** tiny male cell, male cells, plants, long tail, tail, sperm

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sperm is a tiny male cell made by male animals and men; when a sperm joins with an egg cell from a female, a new baby animal or baby human can start to grow.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:m1:1
# text = A sperm is a tiny male cell made by male animals and men; when a sperm joins with an egg cell from a female, a new baby animal or baby human can start to grow.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	male	male	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	18	mark	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	advcl	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
28	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
29	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	compound	_	_
30	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	appos	_	_
31	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
32	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	_
33	human	human	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	conj	_	_
34	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	35	aux	_	_
35	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
36	to	to	PART	TO	_	37	mark	_	_
37	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	35	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sperm | a tiny male cell |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a tiny male cell *not said here* |  |  |  | by male animals and men | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **join** | present | a sperm |  |  |  |  | with a egg cell from a female | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient with cell=Co-Patient |
| 4 | **start** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **grow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In plants, the male cells that join with egg cells are carried in pollen.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:m2:1
# text = In plants, the male cells that join with egg cells are carried in pollen.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	join	join	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	pollen	pollen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | the male cells |  |  |  |  | with egg cells | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient with cell=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **carry** | present · passive |  | the male cells |  | plants |  | in pollen | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Value in plant=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby starts when a sperm and an egg join.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x1:1
# text = A baby starts when a sperm and an egg join.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	join	join	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | a baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sperm cell has a long tail to help it swim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x2:1
# text = A sperm cell has a long tail to help it swim.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a sperm cell | a long tail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | a sperm cell *not said here* | tail |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **swim** | infinitive | tail *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Half of your DNA came from the sperm and half from the egg.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x3:1
# text = Half of your DNA came from the sperm and half from the egg.
1	Half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	8	conj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Half of your DNA |  |  | the sperm and half from the egg |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from sperm=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frogs release eggs and sperm into the pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x4:1
# text = Frogs release eggs and sperm into the pond.
1	Frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	release	release	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **release** | present | Frogs | eggs and sperm |  | the pond |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer egg=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sperm are much too small to see without a microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x5:1
# text = Sperm are much too small to see without a microscope.
1	Sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	much	much	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Sperm |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | Sperm *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without a microscope | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sperm:x6:1
# text = The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sperm	sperm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
7	toothed	toothed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the sperm whale | the largest toothed whale |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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