---
title: toad — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «toad» in the school dictionary: A toad is a small animal like a frog, an amphibian, usually with dry, bumpy skin and short legs that make it walk or hop rather than leap. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# toad

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** toad, short legs, Calling, old insult, skin, Toads · **What happens:** be, make, walk, hop, call, mean · **To what, where:** small animal, toad, someone, old insult, nasty person, dry warty skin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«toad» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [toad in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/toad.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A toad is a small animal like a frog, an amphibian, usually with dry, bumpy skin and short legs that make it walk or hop rather than leap.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:m1:1
# text = A toad is a small animal like a frog, an amphibian, usually with dry, bumpy skin and short legs that make it walk or hop rather than leap.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	amphibian	amphibian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	bumpy	bumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
23	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obj	_	_
26	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	hop	hop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	conj	_	_
29	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	31	cc	_	_
30	than	than	ADP	IN	_	29	fixed	_	_
31	leap	leap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a toad | a small animal |  |  |  | like a frog and a amphibian | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | short legs | toad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **walk** | infinitive | toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **hop** | infinitive | toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling someone a toad is an old insult meaning a nasty person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:m2:1
# text = Calling someone a toad is an old insult meaning a nasty person.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme toad=Result |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Calling | a old insult |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | gerund | a old insult *not said here* | a nasty person |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A toad has dry, warty skin, but a frog's skin is smooth and wet.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x1:1
# text = A toad has dry, warty skin, but a frog's skin is smooth and wet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	warty	warty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a toad | dry warty skin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | a frog's skin |  |  |  |  | smooth *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | a frog's skin *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toads lay their eggs in long strings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x2:1
# text = Toads lay their eggs in long strings.
1	Toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | Toads | Toads's eggs |  | long strings |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent egg=Theme in string=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tadpoles will grow into toads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x3:1
# text = The tadpoles will grow into toads.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | future | the tadpoles |  |  |  |  | into toads *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into toad=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cane toads are a big problem in Queensland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x4:1
# text = Cane toads are a big problem in Queensland.
1	Cane	cane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	toads	toad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Queensland	Queensland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cane toads | a big problem |  | Queensland |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands after holding a toad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x5:1
# text = Wash your hands after holding a toad.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **hold** | gerund | you *not said here* | a toad |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toad=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mr Toad loved fast cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x6:1
# text = Mr Toad loved fast cars.
1	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | past | Mr | fast cars |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer car=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A toad sat very still by the pond, waiting for a fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x7:1
# text = A toad sat very still by the pond, waiting for a fly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fly	fly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | a toad |  |  |  | still | by the pond | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by pond=Location |
| 2 | **wait** | gerund | a toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a fly | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Listen!” replied the great old toad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toad:x8:1
# text = Listen!” replied the great old toad.
1	Listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
4	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **reply** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past |  | the great old toad |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent toad=Topic |

<!-- 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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