---
title: taro — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «taro» in the school dictionary: Taro is a tropical plant grown for its large, starchy root (corm), which is cooked and eaten like a potato. Its big leaves are heart-shaped and can also be cooked. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# taro

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Taro, I, you, taro plant, Mum, We · **What happens:** be, grow, cook, eat, shape, make · **To what, where:** tropical plant, big leaves, food, root, bubble tea, Japanese first name · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«taro» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [taro in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/taro.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taro is a tropical plant grown for its large, starchy root (corm), which is cooked and eaten like a potato. Its big leaves are heart-shaped and can also be cooked.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Taro is a tropical plant grown for its large, starchy root (corm), which is cooked and eaten like a potato.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:m1:1
# text = Taro is a tropical plant grown for its large, starchy root (corm), which is cooked and eaten like a potato.
1	Taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	tropical	tropical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	starchy	starchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	corm	corm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	conj	_	_
22	like	like	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Taro | a tropical plant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | participle |  | a tropical plant *not said here* |  |  |  | for Taro's large starchy root | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **cook** | present · passive |  | a tropical plant |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **eat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like a potato | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: 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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Its big leaves are heart-shaped and can also be cooked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:m1:2
# text = Its big leaves are heart-shaped and can also be cooked.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
5	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	also	also	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | present · passive |  | Taro's big leaves |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **cook** | can · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V» |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taro is also the food made from this root, and its purple-grey flavour in bubble tea and desserts.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:m2:1
# text = Taro is also the food made from this root, and its purple-grey flavour in bubble tea and desserts.
1	Taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
13	purple	purple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	flavour	flavour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	bubble	bubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	desserts	dessert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Taro | the food and Taro's grey flavour in bubble tea and desserts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | the food and Taro's grey flavour in bubble tea and desserts *not said here* |  | this root |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from root=Material |
| 3 | **flavour** |  | Taro |  |  | bubble tea and desserts |  |  | nom flavour «state transitive»: poss=agent in=place |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taro is also a Japanese first name, as in Urashima Taro.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:m3:1
# text = Taro is also a Japanese first name, as in Urashima Taro.
1	Taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	Japanese	Japanese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	Urashima	Urashima	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	Taro	Taro	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Taro | a Japanese first name |  |  |  | as Urashima Taro | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taro is an important food in the Pacific Islands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x1:1
# text = Taro is an important food in the Pacific Islands.
1	Taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Pacific	Pacific	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Islands	Island	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Taro | a important food |  | the Pacific Islands |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Hawaii, taro is mashed to make poi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x2:1
# text = In Hawaii, taro is mashed to make poi.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Hawaii	Hawaii	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	mashed	mash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	poi	poi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mash** | present · passive |  | taro |  | Hawaii |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | poi |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset poi=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I tried purple taro bubble tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x3:1
# text = I tried purple taro bubble tea.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	purple	purple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bubble	bubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | I | purple bubble tea |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tea=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taro must be cooked before you eat it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x4:1
# text = Taro must be cooked before you eat it.
1	Taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | must · passive |  | Taro |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | present | you | Taro |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The taro plant has huge heart-shaped leaves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x5:1
# text = The taro plant has huge heart-shaped leaves.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the taro plant | huge shaped leaves |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum fried some taro chips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x6:1
# text = Mum fried some taro chips.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fried	fry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
4	taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fry** | past | Mum | some taro chips |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent chip=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned that taro grows in wet, warm places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x7:1
# text = We learned that taro grows in wet, warm places.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	taro	taro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **grow** | present | taro |  |  | wet warm places |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“This is Urashima Taro, from the country of Japan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:taro:x8:1
# text = “This is Urashima Taro, from the country of Japan.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	Urashima	Urashima	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Taro	Taro	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | This | Urashima Taro |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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