---
title: tetra — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tetra» in the school dictionary: A tetra is a small, often brightly coloured freshwater fish from South America or Africa, popular in home aquariums, such as the neon tetra. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tetra

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tetra, We, Tetras, tetrahedron, neon tetra, Frogs · **What happens:** be, mean, start, have, like, swim · **To what, where:** small coloured freshwater fish, South America, home aquariums, four, word, six neon tetras

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tetra is a small, often brightly coloured freshwater fish from South America or Africa, popular in home aquariums, such as the neon tetra.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:m1:1
# text = A tetra is a small, often brightly coloured freshwater fish from South America or Africa, popular in home aquariums, such as the neon tetra.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tetra	tetra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	brightly	brightly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	freshwater	freshwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	aquariums	aquarium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
23	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	27	case	_	_
24	as	as	ADP	IN	_	23	fixed	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	neon	neon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	tetra	tetra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tetra | a small coloured freshwater fish |  | South America or Africa |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a tetra *not said here* |  |  | home aquariums and the neon tetra |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Tetra- at the start of a word means four, as in tetrahedron (a solid with four faces) and tetrapod (an animal with four limbs).

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:m2:1
# text = Tetra- at the start of a word means four, as in tetrahedron (a solid with four faces) and tetrapod (an animal with four limbs).
1	Tetra	Tetra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	tetrahedron	tetrahedron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	solid	solid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	20	nummod	_	_
20	faces	face	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	tetrapod	tetrapod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	appos	_	_
27	with	with	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	29	nummod	_	_
29	limbs	limb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Tetra | four |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent four=Topic |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | a word |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We have six neon tetras in our fish tank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x1:1
# text = We have six neon tetras in our fish tank.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	neon	neon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tetras	tetra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | six neon tetras |  | our fish tank |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tetra=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tetras like to swim together in a shoal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x2:1
# text = Tetras like to swim together in a shoal.
1	Tetras	tetra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	together	together	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shoal	shoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | Tetras |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **swim** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Tetras *not said here* |  |  | a shoal |  | together *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in shoal=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tetrahedron is a pyramid with four triangle faces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x3:1
# text = A tetrahedron is a pyramid with four triangle faces.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tetrahedron	tetrahedron	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	pyramid	pyramid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	triangle	triangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	faces	face	NOUN	NNS	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 | a tetrahedron | a pyramid |  |  |  | with four triangle faces | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The neon tetra has a shiny blue stripe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x4:1
# text = The neon tetra has a shiny blue stripe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	neon	neon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tetra	tetra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stripe	stripe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frogs, lizards, birds and people are all tetrapods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x5:1
# text = Frogs, lizards, birds and people are all tetrapods.
1	Frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	lizards	lizard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	tetrapods	tetrapod	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Frogs and lizards and birds and people | tetrapods |  |  |  | all *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feed the tetras a small pinch of flakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x6:1
# text = Feed the tetras a small pinch of flakes.
1	Feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tetras	tetra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pinch	pinch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	flakes	flake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tetras |  |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tetra=Recipient |
| 2 | **pinch** |  |  | flakes |  |  |  |  | nom pinch «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pet shop sells tetras, guppies and goldfish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tetra:x7:1
# text = The pet shop sells tetras, guppies and goldfish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tetras	tetra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	guppies	guppy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	goldfish	goldfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | the pet shop | tetras and guppies and goldfish |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tetra=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.

<!-- /div -->

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