---
title: starfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «starfish» in the school dictionary: A starfish is a sea animal shaped like a star, usually with five arms, that lives on the sea floor and on rocks. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# starfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** starfish, that, Scientists, star, We, you · **What happens:** be, shape, live, call, not be, find · **To what, where:** sea animal, sea floor, it, fish, starfish, rock pool · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«starfish» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [starfish in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/starfish.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starfish is a sea animal shaped like a star, usually with five arms, that lives on the sea floor and on rocks.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:m1:1
# text = A starfish is a sea animal shaped like a star, usually with five arms, that lives on the sea floor and on rocks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starfish	starfish	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	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	on	on	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a starfish | a sea animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  | a sea animal *not said here* |  |  |  | like a star and five arms | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **live** | present | that |  |  | the sea floor and rocks |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on floor=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists also call it a sea star, because it is not a fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:m2:1
# text = Scientists also call it a sea star, because it is not a fish.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | Scientists | it |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | star | a fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a starfish in the rock pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x1:1
# text = We found a starfish in the rock pool.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	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	starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pool	pool	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 | **find** | past | We | a starfish |  | the rock pool |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent starfish=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starfish usually has five arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x2:1
# text = A starfish usually has five arms.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a starfish | five arms |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Starfish are not fish, so scientists call them sea stars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x3:1
# text = Starfish are not fish, so scientists call them sea stars.
1	Starfish	starfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Starfish | fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | present | scientists | Starfish |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme star=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starfish can grow a new arm if it loses one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x4:1
# text = A starfish can grow a new arm if it loses one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	loses	lose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | can | a starfish | a new arm |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location arm=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | starfish | one |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the starfish gently back in the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x5:1
# text = Put the starfish gently back in the water.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | the starfish |  | the water |  | gently *property* | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent starfish=Theme in water=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Starfish eat mussels by opening their shells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x6:1
# text = Starfish eat mussels by opening their shells.
1	Starfish	starfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mussels	mussel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	opening	open	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Starfish | mussels |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mussel=Patient |
| 2 | **open** | gerund | Starfish *not said here* | Starfish's shells |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location shell=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The starfish was orange and bumpy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x7:1
# text = The starfish was orange and bumpy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	orange	orange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	bumpy	bumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the starfish |  |  |  |  | orange *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the starfish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She lay on the sand like a starfish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starfish:x8:1
# text = She lay on the sand like a starfish.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	starfish	starfish	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 | **lie** | past | She |  |  | the sand |  | like a starfish | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on sand=Location |

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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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