---
title: virus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «virus» in the school dictionary: A virus is a tiny germ, much too small to see, that gets inside living cells and can make people, animals or plants ill. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# virus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** virus, that, computer virus, harmful program, you, flu vaccine · **What happens:** be, see, get, make, spread, damage · **To what, where:** tiny germ, living cells, people, harmful program, computers, information

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A virus is a tiny germ, much too small to see, that gets inside living cells and can make people, animals or plants ill.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:m1:1
# text = A virus is a tiny germ, much too small to see, that gets inside living cells and can make people, animals or plants ill.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	virus	virus	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	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	germ	germ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	much	much	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
16	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
22	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	_
27	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a virus | a tiny germ |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | a virus *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **get** | present | that |  |  | living cells |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **make** | can | that *not said here* | people and animals or plants |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset people=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A computer virus is a harmful program that spreads between computers and damages them or steals information.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:m2:1
# text = A computer virus is a harmful program that spreads between computers and damages them or steals information.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	between	between	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	computers	computer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	damages	damage	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	steals	steal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
17	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a computer virus | a harmful program |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | present | a harmful program |  |  | computers |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between computer=Location |
| 3 | **damage** | present | a harmful program *not said here* | computers *= computer* |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 4 | **steal** | present | a harmful program *not said here* | information |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location information=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cold is caused by a virus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x1:1
# text = A cold is caused by a virus.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cold	cold	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	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present · passive | a virus | a cold |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands to stop viruses spreading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x2:1
# text = Wash your hands to stop viruses spreading.
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	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	viruses	virus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	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 | **stop** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | viruses |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **spread** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flu vaccine protects you from the flu virus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x3:1
# text = The flu vaccine protects you from the flu virus.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	vaccine	vaccine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | the flu vaccine |  | you |  |  | from the flu virus | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary from virus=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x4:1
# text = Viruses are much smaller than bacteria.
1	Viruses	virus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	much	much	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bacteria	bacterium	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 | **is** | present | Viruses |  |  |  |  | than bacteria; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Antibiotics don't work against viruses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x5:1
# text = Antibiotics don't work against viruses.
1	Antibiotics	antibiotic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	viruses	virus	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 | **not** **work** | present · do-support | Antibiotics |  |  |  |  | against viruses | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The email had a virus, so Dad deleted it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x6:1
# text = The email had a virus, so Dad deleted it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	deleted	delete	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the email | a virus |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent virus=Patient |
| 2 | **delete** | past | Dad | virus |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The virus spread quickly through the class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:virus:x7:1
# text = The virus spread quickly through the class.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | the virus |  |  | the class |  | quickly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through class=Location |

<!-- 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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