---
title: tern — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tern» in the school dictionary: A tern is a seabird like a small, slim gull, with long pointed wings, a forked tail and often a black cap, which dives into water to catch fish. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tern

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tern, black cap, Arctic terns, Terns, you, We · **What happens:** be, point, fork, dive, catch, fly · **To what, where:** seabird, water, fish, tern, sea, pole

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tern is a seabird like a small, slim gull, with long pointed wings, a forked tail and often a black cap, which dives into water to catch fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:m1:1
# text = A tern is a seabird like a small, slim gull, with long pointed wings, a forked tail and often a black cap, which dives into water to catch fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tern	tern	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	seabird	seabird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	slim	slim	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	gull	gull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	amod	_	_
16	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	forked	fork	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	amod	_	_
20	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
22	often	often	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
27	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	28	nsubj	_	_
28	dives	dive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	acl:relcl	_	_
29	into	into	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
30	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	_
31	to	to	PART	TO	_	32	mark	_	_
32	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	28	advcl	_	_
33	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tern | a seabird and a forked tail and a black cap |  |  |  | like a small slim gull with long pointed wings | tree rules |
| 2 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fork** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **dive** | present | a black cap |  |  | water |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into water=Location |
| 5 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a black cap *not said here* | fish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tern dived into the sea and caught a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x1:1
# text = A tern dived into the sea and caught a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tern	tern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	dived	dive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
8	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dive** | participle |  | a tern *not said here* |  | the sea |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into sea=Location |
| 2 | **catch** | past | a tern | a fish |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Arctic terns fly from pole to pole every year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x2:1
# text = Arctic terns fly from pole to pole every year.
1	Arctic	arctic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	terns	tern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fly	fly	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | present | Arctic terns |  |  | pole | year | to pole | vn drive-11.5-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent from pole=Initial\_Location to pole=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Terns nest on the shingle beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x3:1
# text = Terns nest on the shingle beach.
1	Terns	tern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nest	nest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shingle	shingle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nest** | present | Terns |  |  | the shingle beach |  |  | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tern has a black cap and a red beak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x4:1
# text = The tern has a black cap and a red beak.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tern	tern	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	6	det	_	_
5	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the tern | a black cap and a red beak |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cap=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep away from the tern colony in nesting season.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x5:1
# text = Keep away from the tern colony in nesting season.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tern	tern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	colony	colony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	nesting	nest	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
9	season	season	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the tern colony |  | away *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer from colony=Eventuality |
| 2 | **nest** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  | season |  | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched terns hovering over the waves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x6:1
# text = We watched terns hovering over the waves.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	terns	tern	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	hovering	hover	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | terns |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tern=Theme |
| 2 | **hover** | gerund | terns *not said here* |  |  | the waves |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over wave=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tern's tail is forked like a swallow's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tern:x7:1
# text = The tern's tail is forked like a swallow's.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tern	tern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tail	tail	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	forked	fork	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	swallow	swallow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fork** | present · passive |  | the tern's tail |  |  |  | like a swallow | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |

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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.

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