---
title: whale — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whale» in the school dictionary: A whale is a very large animal that lives in the sea, looks like a fish, but is a mammal and breathes air. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whale

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whale, large animal, blue whale, We, Humpback whales, Killer whales · **What happens:** be, live, look, breathe, mean, see · **To what, where:** large animal, sea, mammal, air, biggest animal, Earth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«whale» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [whale in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/whale.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whale is a very large animal that lives in the sea, looks like a fish, but is a mammal and breathes air.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:m1:1
# text = A whale is a very large animal that lives in the sea, looks like a fish, but is a mammal and breathes air.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	breathes	breathe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
25	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whale | a large animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | a large animal |  |  | the sea |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Location |
| 3 | **look** | present |  |  |  |  |  | like a fish | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **is a** | present |  | a mammal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **breathe** | present | a large animal *not said here* | air |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=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 -->
«A whale of a time» means a really great, fun time.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:m2:1
# text = «A whale of a time» means a really great, fun time.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
10	really	really	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a whale of a time |  |  |  | time |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whale is a mammal, not a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x1:1
# text = A whale is a mammal, not a fish.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whale	whale	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	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 whale | a mammal |  |  |  | a fish *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The blue whale is the biggest animal on Earth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x2:1
# text = The blue whale is the biggest animal on Earth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the blue whale | the biggest animal |  | Earth |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a whale spout water from its blowhole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x3:1
# text = We saw a whale spout water from its blowhole.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	spout	spout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	blowhole	blowhole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a spout water |  | water's blowhole |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer water=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Humpback whales sing long songs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x4:1
# text = Humpback whales sing long songs.
1	Humpback	humpback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	songs	song	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 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | Humpback whales | long songs |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby whale is called a calf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x5:1
# text = A baby whale is called a calf.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a baby whale |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Killer whales hunt in groups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x6:1
# text = Killer whales hunt in groups.
1	Killer	killer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hunt	hunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | present | Killer whales |  |  | groups |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in group=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whales must come up to the surface to breathe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x7:1
# text = Whales must come up to the surface to breathe.
1	Whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come up** | must | Whales |  |  | the surface |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to surface=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **breathe** | to-infinitive | Whales *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a whale of a time at the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x8:1
# text = We had a whale of a time at the party.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | a whale of a time at the party |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whale=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A great whale came and swallowed her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whale:x9:1
# text = A great whale came and swallowed her.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a great whale |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **swallow** | past | a great whale *not said here* | whale |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Patient |

<!-- 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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