---
title: tortoise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tortoise» in the school dictionary: A tortoise is a slow animal with a hard, high shell that lives on land and can pull its head and legs inside the shell. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tortoise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tortoise, hard high shell, Tortoises, zoo, hare, slow tortoise · **What happens:** be, live, pull, have, walk, run · **To what, where:** slow animal, land, head, shell, 5 tortoises, 2 meters

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tortoise is a slow animal with a hard, high shell that lives on land and can pull its head and legs inside the shell.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:m1:1
# text = A tortoise is a slow animal with a hard, high shell that lives on land and can pull its head and legs inside the shell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	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	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	pull	pull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
20	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	_
24	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tortoise | a slow animal |  |  |  | with a hard high shell | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | a hard high shell |  |  | land |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on land=Location |
| 3 | **pull** | can | a hard high shell *not said here* | tortoise's head and legs |  | the shell |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent head=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 -->
Tortoises can live a very long time, some more than 100 years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:m2:1
# text = Tortoises can live a very long time, some more than 100 years.
1	Tortoises	tortoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	12	advmod	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | can | Tortoises |  |  |  | time; year |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The zoo has 5 tortoises.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x1:1
# text = The zoo has 5 tortoises.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	tortoises	tortoise	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 | **have** | present | the zoo | 5 tortoises |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tortoise=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tortoise walks 2 meters a minute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x2:1
# text = A tortoise walks 2 meters a minute.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	walks	walk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	meters	meter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | present | a tortoise | 2 meters  a minute |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme meter=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tortoise is 80 years old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x3:1
# text = The tortoise is 80 years old.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	80	80	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the tortoise |  |  |  | year | old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hare ran 10 times as fast as the tortoise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x4:1
# text = The hare ran 10 times as fast as the tortoise.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hare	hare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the hare |  |  |  | time | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the slow tortoise won the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x5:1
# text = In the story, the slow tortoise won the race.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	race	race	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 | **win** | past | the slow tortoise | the race |  | the story |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giant tortoises live on the Galapagos Islands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x6:1
# text = Giant tortoises live on the Galapagos Islands.
1	Giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tortoises	tortoise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Galapagos	Galapagos	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Islands	Island	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Giant tortoises |  |  | the Galapagos Islands |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on island=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our pet tortoise sleeps all winter in a box of straw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x7:1
# text = Our pet tortoise sleeps all winter in a box of straw.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sleeps	sleep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present | Our pet tortoise |  |  | a box of straw | winter |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in box=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Tortoise was very glad indeed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tortoise:x8:1
# text = The Tortoise was very glad indeed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Tortoise	Tortoise	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	glad	glad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Tortoise |  |  |  |  | glad, indeed *property* | 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 -->

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