---
title: wren — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wren» in the school dictionary: A wren is a tiny brown bird with a short tail that sticks up; it has a very loud song for its size. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wren

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wren, that, Wrens, Christopher, tail, wren boys · **What happens:** be, stick up, have, sing, build, design · **To what, where:** tiny brown bird, loud song, family name, hedge, round nests, Cathedral · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wren is a tiny brown bird with a short tail that sticks up; it has a very loud song for its size.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:m1:1
# text = A wren is a tiny brown bird with a short tail that sticks up; it has a very loud song for its size.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wren	wren	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	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	sticks	stick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
14	up	up	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
22	for	for	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a wren | a tiny brown bird |  |  |  | with a short tail | tree rules |
| 2 | **stick up** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **have** | present | wren | a loud song |  |  |  | for wren's size | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent song=Patient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wren is also a family name, as in Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:m2:1
# text = Wren is also a family name, as in Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London.
1	Wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Christopher	Christopher	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
12	Wren	Wren	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	architect	architect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	Paul	Paul	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
20	Cathedral	Cathedral	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wren | a family name |  |  |  | as Sir Christopher | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wren was singing loudly from the hedge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x1:1
# text = A wren was singing loudly from the hedge.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hedge	hedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past · progressive | a wren |  |  | the hedge |  | loudly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wren is tiny but very loud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x2:1
# text = The wren is tiny but very loud.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the wren |  |  |  |  | tiny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the wren *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wrens build round nests with a hole in the side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x3:1
# text = Wrens build round nests with a hole in the side.
1	Wrens	wren	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	side	side	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 | **build** | present | Wrens | round nests |  |  |  | with a hole in the side | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent nest=Theme with hole=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christopher Wren designed St Paul's Cathedral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x4:1
# text = Christopher Wren designed St Paul's Cathedral.
1	Christopher	Christopher	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Wren	Wren	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	designed	design	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Paul	Paul	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	Cathedral	Cathedral	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **design** | past | Christopher | St Paul's Cathedral |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cathedral=Result |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wren's tail sticks straight up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x5:1
# text = The wren's tail sticks straight up.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sticks	stick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	up	up	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick** | present | the wren's tail |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Ireland, the wren boys dress up on St Stephen's Day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x6:1
# text = In Ireland, the wren boys dress up on St Stephen's Day.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wren	wren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	dress	dress	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Stephen	Stephen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	Day	Day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dress up** | present | the wren boys |  |  | Ireland | on St Stephen's Day |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Will you take me?" said the wren.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wren:x7:1
# text = "Will you take me?" said the wren.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wren	wren	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 | **take** *in a quote* | future | you |  | the wren *= wren* |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument i=Destination |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | the wren |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=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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