---
title: zebra — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «zebra» in the school dictionary: A zebra is a wild African animal like a horse with black and white stripes. A zebra has 4 legs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# zebra

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** zebra, zebra crossing, people, zoo, many legs, 6 zebras · **What happens:** be, have, cross, do, drink, eat · **To what, where:** wild African animal, 4 legs, place, road, 6 zebras, water

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zebra is a wild African animal like a horse with black and white stripes. A zebra has 4 legs.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A zebra is a wild African animal like a horse with black and white stripes.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:m1:1
# text = A zebra is a wild African animal like a horse with black and white stripes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zebra	zebra	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	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a zebra | a wild African animal |  |  |  | like a horse with black stripes | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* A zebra has 4 legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:m1:2
# text = A zebra has 4 legs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	legs	leg	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 | a zebra | 4 legs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zebra crossing (UK) is a place on a road with black and white stripes where people can cross.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:m2:1
# text = A zebra crossing (UK) is a place on a road with black and white stripes where people can cross.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	_
17	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
18	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	21	advmod	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
20	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a zebra crossing | a place |  | a road |  | with black stripes | tree rules |
| 2 | **cross** | can | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The zoo has 6 zebras.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x1:1
# text = The zoo has 6 zebras.
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	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	zebras	zebra	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 | 6 zebras |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zebra=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many legs do 6 zebras have?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x2:1
# text = How many legs do 6 zebras have?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | many legs |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | 6 zebras |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
3 zebras and 2 lions drink water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x3:1
# text = 3 zebras and 2 lions drink water.
1	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	lions	lion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	drink	drink	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drink** | present | 3 zebras and 2 lions | water |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each zebra eats 8 kg of grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x4:1
# text = Each zebra eats 8 kg of grass.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	kg	kg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | each zebra | 8 kg of grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kg=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No two zebras have the same stripes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x5:1
# text = No two zebras have the same stripes.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | no two zebras | the same stripes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stripe=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A herd of zebras ran across the plain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x6:1
# text = A herd of zebras ran across the plain.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	herd	herd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plain	plain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | a herd of zebras |  |  | the plain |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across plain=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cross the road at the zebra crossing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x7:1
# text = Cross the road at the zebra crossing.
1	Cross	cross	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | imperative | you *not said here* | the road |  | the zebra crossing |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zebras live in Africa and eat grass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zebra:x8:1
# text = Zebras live in Africa and eat grass.
1	Zebras	zebra	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Zebras |  |  | Africa |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in africa=Location |
| 2 | **eat** | present | Zebras *not said here* | grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

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**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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