---
title: swallowtail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «swallowtail» in the school dictionary: A swallowtail is a large, brightly coloured butterfly with long points on its back wings that look like the forked tail of a swallow (a bird). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallowtail/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / swallowtail

# swallowtail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** swallowtail, back wings, swallowtail butterfly, swallowtails, swallowtail caterpillar, ship · **What happens:** be, look, fork, describe, land, have · **To what, where:** large coloured butterfly, shape, yellow swallowtail, flower, long tails, wings

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A swallowtail is a large, brightly coloured butterfly with long points on its back wings that look like the forked tail of a swallow (a bird).

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:m1:1
# text = A swallowtail is a large, brightly coloured butterfly with long points on its back wings that look like the forked tail of a swallow (a bird).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	brightly	brightly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	forked	fork	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	amod	_	_
22	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	swallow	swallow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	_
26	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a swallowtail | a large coloured butterfly |  |  |  | with long points on swallowtail's back wings | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | swallowtail's back wings |  |  |  |  | like the forked tail of a swallow | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **fork** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: 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 -->
Swallowtail can describe any shape with a deep forked end, like a swallowtail flag or swallowtail coat.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:m2:1
# text = Swallowtail can describe any shape with a deep forked end, like a swallowtail flag or swallowtail coat.
1	Swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	forked	fork	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Swallowtail | any shape |  |  | with a deep forked end |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent shape=Theme |
| 2 | **fork** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A yellow swallowtail landed on the flower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x1:1
# text = A yellow swallowtail landed on the flower.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	landed	land	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **land** | participle |  | a yellow swallowtail *not said here* |  | the flower |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme on flower=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swallowtail butterfly has long tails on its wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x2:1
# text = The swallowtail butterfly has long tails on its wings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the swallowtail butterfly | long tails |  | butterfly's wings |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the UK, swallowtails live in the Norfolk Broads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x3:1
# text = In the UK, swallowtails live in the Norfolk Broads.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	swallowtails	swallowtail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Norfolk	Norfolk	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Broads	broad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | swallowtails |  |  | the UK |  | in the Norfolk Broads | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in uk=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The swallowtail caterpillar was green with black stripes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x4:1
# text = The swallowtail caterpillar was green with black stripes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the swallowtail caterpillar |  |  |  |  | with black stripes; green *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship flew a swallowtail flag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x5:1
# text = The ship flew a swallowtail flag.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	flag	flag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | the ship | a swallowtail flag |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location flag=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew a swallowtail for our minibeast project.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swallowtail:x6:1
# text = We drew a swallowtail for our minibeast project.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	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	swallowtail	swallowtail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	minibeast	minibeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a swallowtail |  |  |  | for our minibeast project | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent swallowtail=Result for project=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **project** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom project «act 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [swallow](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swallow/)
- next →: [swamp](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swamp/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)