---
title: twins — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «twins» in the school dictionary: Twins are two children born to the same mother at the same birth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# twins

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Twins, Identical twins, one egg, non-identical twins, Twin, Twin towns · **What happens:** be, bear, come, split, look, mean · **To what, where:** two children, same birth, one egg, two eggs, boy, one · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«twins» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [twins in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twins.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twins are two children born to the same mother at the same birth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:m1:1
# text = Twins are two children born to the same mother at the same birth.
1	Twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Twins | two children |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bear** | participle |  | two children *not said here* |  | the same birth |  | to the same mother | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Identical twins come from one egg that splits, so they look almost the same; non-identical (fraternal) twins come from two eggs and may be a boy and a girl.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:m2:1
# text = Identical twins come from one egg that splits, so they look almost the same; non-identical (fraternal) twins come from two eggs and may be a boy and a girl.
1	Identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	splits	split	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	non-identical	non-identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	fraternal	fraternal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	_
21	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
22	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
23	from	from	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	nummod	_	_
25	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
27	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	_
28	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	30	cop	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	_
31	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
32	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Identical twins |  |  | one egg |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from egg=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **split** | present | one egg |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **look** | present | twins *= twin* |  |  |  |  | same *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **come** | present | non-identical twins |  |  | two eggs |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from egg=Initial\_Location |
| 5 | **is a** | may | non-identical twins *not said here* | a boy and a girl |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twin (adjective) means one of a matching pair: «twin beds», «twin towers».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:m3:1
# text = Twin (adjective) means one of a matching pair: «twin beds», «twin towers».
1	Twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	matching	match	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	beds	bed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	towers	tower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Twin | one of a matching pair  twin beds and twin towers |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |
| 2 | **match** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twin towns or sister cities are towns in different countries that are friends and visit each other.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:m4:1
# text = Twin towns or sister cities are towns in different countries that are friends and visit each other.
1	Twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	visit	visit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
16	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	15	obj	_	_
17	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Twin towns or sister cities | towns |  | different countries and friends |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | that | friends |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **visit** | present | that *not said here* | each |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent each=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam and Lily are twins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x1:1
# text = Sam and Lily are twins.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Lily	Lily	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sam and Lily | twins |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My twin brother was born ten minutes before me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x2:1
# text = My twin brother was born ten minutes before me.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | past · passive |  | My twin brother |  |  | before me; minute |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identical twins can be hard to tell apart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x3:1
# text = Identical twins can be hard to tell apart.
1	Identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
8	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Identical twins |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell apart** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | apart *property* | vn distinguish-23.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The twins have different fingerprints.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x4:1
# text = The twins have different fingerprints.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fingerprints	fingerprint	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 twins | different fingerprints |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingerprint=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We stayed in a room with twin beds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x5:1
# text = We stayed in a room with twin beds.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	twin	twin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	beds	bed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | We |  |  | a room with twin beds |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in room=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our town is twinned with a town in France.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x6:1
# text = Our town is twinned with a town in France.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	twinned	twin	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twin** | present · passive |  | Our town |  |  |  | with a town in France | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twins have the same birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x7:1
# text = Twins have the same birthday.
1	Twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“And we are your children,” cried the twins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twins:x8:1
# text = “And we are your children,” cried the twins.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | we | your children |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | your children | the twins |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent twin=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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