few Who acts: Few, few people, Fewer, I, box, bag · What happens: mean, come, have, be, wait, swim · To what, where: many, small number, smaller number, smallest number, few sweets, 20 balloons
«few» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: few in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Few means not many: few people came.
nsubj advmod obj punct amod nsubj conj punct root Few NOUN means VERB not PART many ADJ : PUNCT few ADJ people NOUN came VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Few few NOUN Number=Sing 2 means nsubj 2 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 not not PART Polarity=Neg 4 many advmod 4 many many ADJ Degree=Pos 2 means obj 5 : : PUNCT _ 8 came punct 6 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 7 people amod 7 people people NOUN Number=Plur 8 came nsubj 8 came come VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 2 means conj 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present Few many vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Topic 2 come past few people vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
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 «A few» means a small number, some.
punct det nsubj punct det amod obj punct nmod punct root « PUNCT A DET few ADJ » PUNCT means VERB a DET small ADJ number NOUN , PUNCT some DET . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 3 few punct 2 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 few det 3 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 5 means nsubj 4 » » PUNCT _ 3 few punct 5 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 6 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 number det 7 small small ADJ Degree=Pos 8 number amod 8 number number NOUN Number=Sing 5 means obj 9 , , PUNCT _ 10 some punct 10 some some DET PronType=Ind 8 number nmod 11 . . PUNCT _ 5 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present a few a small number some vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:
I have a few sweets.
nsubj det amod obj punct root I PRON have VERB a DET few ADJ sweets NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 2 have nsubj 2 have have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 sweets det 4 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 5 sweets amod 5 sweets sweet NOUN Number=Plur 2 have obj 6 . . PUNCT _ 2 have punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present I a few sweets vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient
Meaning 3 Fewer means a smaller number than another; fewest means the smallest number of all.
The tree, 14 words nsubj det amod obj case nmod punct amod parataxis det amod obj case nmod punct root Fewer ADJ means VERB a DET smaller ADJ number NOUN than ADP another DET ; PUNCT fewest ADJ means VERB the DET smallest ADJ number NOUN of ADP all DET . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Fewer few ADJ Degree=Cmp 2 means nsubj 2 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 number det 4 smaller small ADJ Degree=Cmp 5 number amod 5 number number NOUN Number=Sing 2 means obj 6 than than ADP _ 7 another case 7 another another DET PronType=Ind 5 number nmod 8 ; ; PUNCT _ 10 means punct 9 fewest few ADJ Degree=Sup 10 means amod 10 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 2 means parataxis 11 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 13 number det 12 smallest small ADJ Degree=Sup 13 number amod 13 number number NOUN Number=Sing 10 means obj 14 of of ADP _ 15 all case 15 all all DET PronType=Tot 13 number nmod 16 . . PUNCT _ 2 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present Fewer a smaller number than another vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic 2 mean present the smallest number of all vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic
Example 1 A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons. How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box?
Sentence 1: A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons.
det nsubj nummod obj cc det nsubj conj nummod obj punct root A DET box NOUN has VERB 20 NUM balloons NOUN and CCONJ a DET bag NOUN has VERB 19 NUM balloons NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 box det 2 box box NOUN Number=Sing 3 has nsubj 3 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 20 20 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 5 balloons nummod 5 balloons balloon NOUN Number=Plur 3 has obj 6 and and CCONJ _ 9 has cc 7 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 bag det 8 bag bag NOUN Number=Sing 9 has nsubj 9 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 has conj 10 19 19 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 11 balloons nummod 11 balloons balloon NOUN Number=Plur 9 has obj 12 . . PUNCT _ 3 has punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present a box 20 balloons vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balloon=Patient 2 have present a bag 19 balloons vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balloon=Patient
Sentence 2: How many fewer balloons are in the bag than in the box?
advmod amod amod nsubj cop case det case case det nmod punct root How ADV many ADJ fewer ADJ balloons NOUN are AUX in ADP the DET bag NOUN than ADP in ADP the DET box NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 How how ADV PronType=Int 2 many advmod 2 many many ADJ Degree=Pos 4 balloons amod 3 fewer few ADJ Degree=Cmp 4 balloons amod 4 balloons balloon NOUN Number=Plur 8 bag nsubj 5 are be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 bag cop 6 in in ADP _ 8 bag case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 bag det 8 bag bag NOUN Number=Sing root root 9 than than ADP _ 12 box case 10 in in ADP _ 12 box case 11 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 12 box det 12 box box NOUN Number=Sing 8 bag nmod 13 ? ? PUNCT _ 8 bag punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is present many fewer balloons the bag than the box tree rules
Example 2 Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa. Lisa has 11 pens.
Sentence 1: Tom has 4 fewer pens than Lisa.
nsubj nummod amod obj case nmod punct root Tom PROPN has VERB 4 NUM fewer ADJ pens NOUN than ADP Lisa PROPN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Tom Tom PROPN Number=Sing 2 has nsubj 2 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 4 4 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 5 pens nummod 4 fewer few ADJ Degree=Cmp 5 pens amod 5 pens pen NOUN Number=Plur 2 has obj 6 than than ADP _ 7 Lisa case 7 Lisa Lisa PROPN Number=Sing 5 pens nmod 8 . . PUNCT _ 2 has punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present Tom 4 fewer pens than Lisa vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Patient
Sentence 2: Lisa has 11 pens.
nsubj nummod obj punct root Lisa PROPN has VERB 11 NUM pens NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Lisa Lisa PROPN Number=Sing 2 has nsubj 2 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 11 11 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 4 pens nummod 4 pens pen NOUN Number=Plur 2 has obj 5 . . PUNCT _ 2 has punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present Lisa 11 pens vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Patient
Example 3 Ann has a few stamps.
nsubj det amod obj punct root Ann PROPN has VERB a DET few ADJ stamps NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Ann Ann PROPN Number=Sing 2 has nsubj 2 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 stamps det 4 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 5 stamps amod 5 stamps stamp NOUN Number=Plur 2 has obj 6 . . PUNCT _ 2 has punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present Ann a few stamps vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stamp=Patient
Example 4 Wait a few minutes, please.
det amod obl:unmarked punct discourse punct root Wait VERB a DET few ADJ minutes NOUN , PUNCT please INTJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Wait wait VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 minutes det 3 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 4 minutes amod 4 minutes minute NOUN Number=Plur 1 Wait obl:unmarked 5 , , PUNCT _ 1 Wait punct 6 please please INTJ _ 1 Wait discourse 7 . . PUNCT _ 1 Wait punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 wait imperative you not said here minute vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
Example 5 Few people swim in the sea in winter.
amod nsubj case det obl case obl punct root Few ADJ people NOUN swim VERB in ADP the DET sea NOUN in ADP winter NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Few few ADJ Degree=Pos 2 people amod 2 people people NOUN Number=Plur 3 swim nsubj 3 swim swim VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 in in ADP _ 6 sea case 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 sea det 6 sea sea NOUN Number=Sing 3 swim obl 7 in in ADP _ 8 winter case 8 winter winter NOUN Number=Sing 3 swim obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 swim punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 swim present Few people the sea winter vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sea=Trajectory
Example 6 Our team scored fewer goals than theirs.
nmod:poss nsubj amod obj case obl punct root Our PRON team NOUN scored VERB fewer ADJ goals NOUN than ADP theirs PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Our our PRON Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 team nmod:poss 2 team team NOUN Number=Sing 3 scored nsubj 3 scored score VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 fewer few ADJ Degree=Cmp 5 goals amod 5 goals goal NOUN Number=Plur 3 scored obj 6 than than ADP _ 7 theirs case 7 theirs their PRON Number=Plur Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 3 scored obl 8 . . PUNCT _ 3 scored punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 score past Our team fewer goals than goals = goal vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme
Example 7 Which class has the fewest books?
det nsubj det amod obj punct root Which DET class NOUN has VERB the DET fewest ADJ books NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Which which DET PronType=Int 2 class det 2 class class NOUN Number=Sing 3 has nsubj 3 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 books det 5 fewest few ADJ Degree=Sup 6 books amod 6 books book NOUN Number=Plur 3 has obj 7 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 has punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present which class the fewest books vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Patient
Example 8 I have a few friends on my street.
nsubj det amod obj case nmod:poss nmod punct root I PRON have VERB a DET few ADJ friends NOUN on ADP my PRON street NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 2 have nsubj 2 have have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 friends det 4 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 5 friends amod 5 friends friend NOUN Number=Plur 2 have obj 6 on on ADP _ 8 street case 7 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 8 street nmod:poss 8 street street NOUN Number=Sing 5 friends nmod 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 have punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 have present I a few friends my street vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Patient
Example 9 In a few minutes they were ready.
case det amod obl nsubj cop punct root In ADP a DET few ADJ minutes NOUN they PRON were AUX ready ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 In in ADP _ 4 minutes case 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 minutes det 3 few few ADJ Degree=Pos 4 minutes amod 4 minutes minute NOUN Number=Plur 7 ready obl 5 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 7 ready nsubj 6 were be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 7 ready cop 7 ready ready ADJ Degree=Pos root root 8 . . PUNCT _ 7 ready punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is past they minute ready property tree rules
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.
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