---
title: superhero — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superhero» in the school dictionary: A superhero is a character in comics, films or stories who has special powers, like flying or great strength, and uses them to fight evil and help people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superhero

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** superhero, character, real person, favourite superhero, He, you · **What happens:** be, have, fly, use, fight, help · **To what, where:** character, comics, special powers, powers, evil, people

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A superhero is a character in comics, films or stories who has special powers, like flying or great strength, and uses them to fight evil and help people.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:m1:1
# text = A superhero is a character in comics, films or stories who has special powers, like flying or great strength, and uses them to fight evil and help people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	comics	comic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	powers	power	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
25	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obj	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
28	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	conj	_	_
31	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a superhero | a character |  | comics and films or stories |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a character | special powers |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |
| 3 | **fly** | gerund | a character *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **use** | present | a character *not said here* | powers *= power* |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **fight** | to-infinitive | a character *not said here* | evil |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent evil=Co-Agent |
| 6 | **help** | present | a character *not said here* |  | people |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
Informally, a superhero is a real person who does something very brave or helpful.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:m2:1
# text = Informally, a superhero is a real person who does something very brave or helpful.
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a superhero | a real person |  |  |  | informally *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | a real person | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My favourite superhero can fly and turn invisible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x1:1
# text = My favourite superhero can fly and turn invisible.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	invisible	invisible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | can | My favourite superhero |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | infinitive | My favourite superhero *not said here* |  |  |  |  | invisible *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He dressed up as a superhero for the school parade.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x2:1
# text = He dressed up as a superhero for the school parade.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dressed	dress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	parade	parade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dress up** | past | He |  |  |  |  | as a superhero; for the school parade | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Design your own superhero and draw their costume.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x3:1
# text = Design your own superhero and draw their costume.
1	Design	design	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	costume	costume	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **design** | imperative | you *not said here* | your own superhero |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent superhero=Result |
| 2 | **draw** | infinitive | you *not said here* | their costume |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent costume=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every superhero has a weakness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x4:1
# text = Every superhero has a weakness.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Firefighters are real-life superheroes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x5:1
# text = Firefighters are real-life superheroes.
1	Firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	superheroes	superhero	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Firefighters | real life superheroes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The superhero saved the city from the flood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x6:1
# text = The superhero saved the city from the flood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	saved	save	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	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | past | the superhero | the city |  | the flood |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent city=Theme from flood=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many superheroes hide their real names.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superhero:x7:1
# text = Many superheroes hide their real names.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	superheroes	superhero	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hide	hide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | present | Many superheroes | superheroes's real names |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 2 | **name** |  | superheroes *= superhero* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=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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