literal Who acts: words, literal meaning, meaning, you, it, literal translation · What happens: take, mean, figure, translate, use, not exaggerate · To what, where: words, most basic exact meaning, speech, leg, good luck, joke
«literal» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: literal in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Taking words in their most basic, exact meaning, not as a joke or figure of speech.
The tree, 16 words obj case nmod:poss amod amod punct amod obl punct advmod case det obl cc conj case nmod punct root Taking VERB words NOUN in ADP their PRON most ADJ basic ADJ , PUNCT exact ADJ meaning NOUN , PUNCT not PART as ADP a DET joke NOUN or CCONJ figure NOUN of ADP speech NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Taking take VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part root root 2 words word NOUN Number=Plur 1 Taking obj 3 in in ADP _ 9 meaning case 4 their their PRON Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 9 meaning nmod:poss 5 most most ADJ Degree=Sup 9 meaning amod 6 basic basic ADJ Degree=Pos 9 meaning amod 7 , , PUNCT _ 6 basic punct 8 exact exact ADJ Degree=Pos 9 meaning amod 9 meaning meaning NOUN Number=Sing 1 Taking obl 10 , , PUNCT _ 14 joke punct 11 not not PART Polarity=Neg 14 joke advmod 12 as as ADP _ 14 joke case 13 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 14 joke det 14 joke joke NOUN Number=Sing 1 Taking obl 15 or or CCONJ _ 16 figure cc 16 figure figure NOUN Number=Sing 14 joke conj 17 of of ADP _ 18 speech case 18 speech speech NOUN Number=Sing 16 figure nmod 19 . . PUNCT _ 1 Taking punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 take gerund words words's most basic exact meaning as a joke or figure of speech vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent word=Theme as joke=Attribute
2 mean words = word nom meaning «communication transitive»: poss=agent
3 figure speech nom figure «communication transitive»: of=patient
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 Translated word for word.
amod case nmod punct root Translated VERB word NOUN for ADP word NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Translated translate VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 2 word amod 2 word word NOUN Number=Sing root root 3 for for ADP _ 4 word case 4 word word NOUN Number=Sing 2 word nmod 5 . . PUNCT _ 2 word punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 translate participle vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V»: agent=Patient
Meaning 3 Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.
Used for real, not exaggerated.
case obl punct advmod conj punct root Used VERB for ADP real ADJ , PUNCT not PART exaggerated VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Used use VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 2 for for ADP _ 3 real case 3 real real ADJ Degree=Pos 1 Used obl 4 , , PUNCT _ 6 exaggerated punct 5 not not PART Polarity=Neg 6 exaggerated advmod 6 exaggerated exaggerate VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 1 Used conj 7 . . PUNCT _ 1 Used punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 use participle for real vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
2 not exaggerate participle tree rules
Example 1 The literal meaning of "break a leg" is to snap your leg, but it means good luck.
The tree, 17 words det amod nsubj case punct acl det obj punct cop mark nmod:poss obj punct cc nsubj parataxis amod obj punct root The DET literal ADJ meaning NOUN of ADP " PUNCT break VERB a DET leg NOUN " PUNCT is AUX to PART snap VERB your PRON leg NOUN , PUNCT but CCONJ it PRON means VERB good ADJ luck NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 meaning det 2 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos 3 meaning amod 3 meaning meaning NOUN Number=Sing 12 snap nsubj 4 of of ADP _ 6 break case 5 " " PUNCT _ 6 break punct 6 break break VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 meaning acl 7 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 leg det 8 leg leg NOUN Number=Sing 6 break obj 9 " " PUNCT _ 6 break punct 10 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 12 snap cop 11 to to PART _ 12 snap mark 12 snap snap VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 13 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 14 leg nmod:poss 14 leg leg NOUN Number=Sing 12 snap obj 15 , , PUNCT _ 18 means punct 16 but but CCONJ _ 18 means cc 17 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 18 means nsubj 18 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 12 snap parataxis 19 good good ADJ Degree=Pos 20 luck amod 20 luck luck NOUN Number=Sing 18 means obj 21 . . PUNCT _ 12 snap punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 break in a quote infinitive the literal meaning not said here a leg vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer leg=Patient
2 is present the literal meaning snap property tree rules
3 mean present meaning good luck vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent luck=Topic
Example 2 Don't be so literal — it was a joke!
advmod cop advmod advcl punct nsubj cop det parataxis punct root Do VERB n't PART be AUX so ADV literal ADJ — PUNCT it PRON was AUX a DET joke NOUN ! PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Do do VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 5 literal advmod 3 be be AUX VerbForm=Inf 5 literal cop 4 so so ADV _ 5 literal advmod 5 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos 1 Do advcl 6 — - PUNCT _ 10 joke punct 7 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 joke nsubj 8 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 10 joke cop 9 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 joke det 10 joke joke NOUN Number=Sing 1 Do parataxis 11 ! ! PUNCT _ 1 Do punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 do imperative you not said here vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
2 not is infinitive you not said here literal property tree rules
3 is a past it a joke tree rules
Example 3 A literal translation can sound strange in English.
det amod nsubj aux xcomp case obl punct root A DET literal ADJ translation NOUN can AUX sound VERB strange ADJ in ADP English PROPN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 translation det 2 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos 3 translation amod 3 translation translation NOUN Number=Sing 5 sound nsubj 4 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 5 sound aux 5 sound sound VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 6 strange strange ADJ Degree=Pos 5 sound xcomp 7 in in ADP _ 8 English case 8 English English PROPN Number=Sing 5 sound obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 5 sound punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 sound can a literal translation English strange property vn sound_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in english=Location
Example 4 She took my words literally and really jumped in the lake.
nsubj nmod:poss obj advmod cc advmod conj case det obl punct root She PRON took VERB my PRON words NOUN literally ADV and CCONJ really ADV jumped VERB in ADP the DET lake NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 She she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 2 took nsubj 2 took take VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 4 words nmod:poss 4 words word NOUN Number=Plur 2 took obj 5 literally literally ADV _ 2 took advmod 6 and and CCONJ _ 8 jumped cc 7 really really ADV _ 8 jumped advmod 8 jumped jump VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 2 took conj 9 in in ADP _ 11 lake case 10 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 lake det 11 lake lake NOUN Number=Sing 8 jumped obl 12 . . PUNCT _ 2 took punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 take past She my words literally property vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme
2 jump past She not said here the lake vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in lake=Trajectory
3 word my nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent
Example 5 In a literal sense, "breakfast" means breaking a fast.
case det amod obl punct punct nsubj punct xcomp det obj punct root In ADP a DET literal ADJ sense NOUN , PUNCT " PUNCT breakfast NOUN " PUNCT means VERB breaking VERB a DET fast ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 In in ADP _ 4 sense case 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 sense det 3 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos 4 sense amod 4 sense sense NOUN Number=Sing 9 means obl 5 , , PUNCT _ 4 sense punct 6 " " PUNCT _ 7 breakfast punct 7 breakfast breakfast NOUN Number=Sing 9 means nsubj 8 " " PUNCT _ 7 breakfast punct 9 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 10 breaking break VERB VerbForm=Ger 9 means xcomp 11 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 12 fast det 12 fast fast ADJ Degree=Pos 10 breaking obj 13 . . PUNCT _ 9 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present breakfast a literal sense vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic
2 break not said to happen gerund breakfast not said here a fast vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fast=Patient
Example 6 The literal truth is that we lost five to nil.
det amod nsubj cop mark nsubj obj mark advcl punct root The DET literal ADJ truth NOUN is AUX that SCONJ we PRON lost VERB five NUM to PART nil VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 truth det 2 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos 3 truth amod 3 truth truth NOUN Number=Sing 7 lost nsubj 4 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 lost cop 5 that that SCONJ _ 7 lost mark 6 we we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 7 lost nsubj 7 lost lose VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 8 five five NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 7 lost obj 9 to to PART _ 10 nil mark 10 nil nil VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 lost advcl 11 . . PUNCT _ 7 lost punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is present the literal truth lose property tree rules
2 nil to-infinitive the literal truth not said here tree rules
Example 7 The stories are not literal, or word by word translations, but have been altered in many ways to make them suitable for children.
The tree, 23 words det nsubj cop advmod punct cc conj case compound nmod punct cc aux aux:pass parataxis case amod obl mark advcl obj xcomp case obl punct root The DET stories NOUN are AUX not PART literal ADJ , PUNCT or CCONJ word NOUN by ADP word NOUN translations NOUN , PUNCT but CCONJ have AUX been AUX altered VERB in ADP many ADJ ways NOUN to PART make VERB them PRON suitable ADJ for ADP children NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 stories det 2 stories story NOUN Number=Plur 5 literal nsubj 3 are be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 literal cop 4 not not PART Polarity=Neg 5 literal advmod 5 literal literal ADJ Degree=Pos root root 6 , , PUNCT _ 8 word punct 7 or or CCONJ _ 8 word cc 8 word word NOUN Number=Sing 5 literal conj 9 by by ADP _ 11 translations case 10 word word NOUN Number=Sing 11 translations compound 11 translations translation NOUN Number=Plur 8 word nmod 12 , , PUNCT _ 16 altered punct 13 but but CCONJ _ 16 altered cc 14 have have AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 16 altered aux 15 been be AUX Tense=Past VerbForm=Part 16 altered aux:pass 16 altered alter VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 5 literal parataxis 17 in in ADP _ 19 ways case 18 many many ADJ Degree=Pos 19 ways amod 19 ways way NOUN Number=Plur 16 altered obl 20 to to PART _ 21 make mark 21 make make VERB VerbForm=Inf 16 altered advcl 22 them they PRON Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 21 make obj 23 suitable suitable ADJ Degree=Pos 21 make xcomp 24 for for ADP _ 25 children case 25 children child NOUN Number=Plur 23 suitable obl 26 . . PUNCT _ 5 literal punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not is present the stories literal property tree rules
2 alter present · perfect · passive many ways vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»
3 make to-infinitive stories = story suitable property vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product
4 word word translations nom word «communication transitive»: by=agent
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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