---
title: stickleback — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stickleback» in the school dictionary: A stickleback is a small fish with sharp spines on its back, found in ponds, streams and coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stickleback

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stickleback, male spined stickleback, We, male stickleback, male belly, Herons · **What happens:** be, find, build, turn, catch, dip · **To what, where:** small fish, ponds, nest, stickleback, spiky spines, back · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stickleback is a small fish with sharp spines on its back, found in ponds, streams and coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:m1:1
# text = A stickleback is a small fish with sharp spines on its back, found in ponds, streams and coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stickleback	stickleback	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	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	on	on	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	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	ponds	pond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	streams	stream	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	coastal	coastal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	waters	water	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	Northern	northern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	Hemisphere	hemisphere	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	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 stickleback | a small fish |  |  |  | with sharp spines on stickleback's back | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | participle |  | a small fish *not said here* |  | ponds and streams and coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
The male three-spined stickleback builds a nest of plants and turns red underneath in the breeding season.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:m2:1
# text = The male three-spined stickleback builds a nest of plants and turns red underneath in the breeding season.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	spined	spined	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stickleback	stickleback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	builds	build	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
14	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	_
15	underneath	underneath	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	breeding	breeding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	season	season	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | the male spined stickleback | a nest of plants |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset nest=Product |
| 2 | **turn** | present | the male spined stickleback *not said here* |  |  |  | season | red, underneath *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We caught a stickleback while pond dipping and then let it go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x1:1
# text = We caught a stickleback while pond dipping and then let it go.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	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	stickleback	stickleback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	dipping	dip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
10	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | We | a stickleback |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stickleback=Theme |
| 2 | **dip** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **let** | infinitive | We *not said here* | stickleback |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **go** | infinitive | stickleback *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stickleback has spiky spines on its back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x2:1
# text = The stickleback has spiky spines on its back.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stickleback	stickleback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spiky	spiky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	back	back	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 | **have** | present | the stickleback | spiky spines |  | stickleback's back |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spine=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The male stickleback builds a nest and guards the eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x3:1
# text = The male stickleback builds a nest and guards the eggs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stickleback	stickleback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	builds	build	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	guards	guard	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | the male stickleback | a nest |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset nest=Product |
| 2 | **guard** | present | the male stickleback *not said here* | the eggs |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In spring the male stickleback's belly turns red.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x4:1
# text = In spring the male stickleback's belly turns red.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	stickleback	stickleback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	belly	belly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | stickleback's male belly |  |  |  | spring | red *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Herons and kingfishers eat sticklebacks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x5:1
# text = Herons and kingfishers eat sticklebacks.
1	Herons	heron	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	kingfishers	kingfisher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sticklebacks	stickleback	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Herons and kingfishers | sticklebacks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stickleback=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sticklebacks raise their spines so bigger fish can't swallow them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x6:1
# text = Sticklebacks raise their spines so bigger fish can't swallow them.
1	Sticklebacks	stickleback	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	raise	raise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
6	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	swallow	swallow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | present | Sticklebacks | Sticklebacks's spines |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spine=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **swallow** | can | bigger fish | spines *= spine* |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study sticklebacks to learn how animals change over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stickleback:x7:1
# text = Scientists study sticklebacks to learn how animals change over time.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sticklebacks	stickleback	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | sticklebacks |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stickleback=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **change** | present | animals |  |  |  | time |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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