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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
objcasenmod:possamodamodpunctamodoblpunctadvmodcasedetoblccconjcasenmodpunctrootTakingVERBwordsNOUNinADPtheirPRONmostADJbasicADJ,PUNCTexactADJmeaningNOUN,PUNCTnotPARTasADPaDETjokeNOUNorCCONJfigureNOUNofADPspeechNOUN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1TakingtakeVERBTense=Pres VerbForm=Partrootroot
2wordswordNOUNNumber=Plur1 Takingobj
3ininADP_9 meaningcase
4theirtheirPRONCase=Gen Number=Plur Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs9 meaningnmod:poss
5mostmostADJDegree=Sup9 meaningamod
6basicbasicADJDegree=Pos9 meaningamod
7,,PUNCT_6 basicpunct
8exactexactADJDegree=Pos9 meaningamod
9meaningmeaningNOUNNumber=Sing1 Takingobl
10,,PUNCT_14 jokepunct
11notnotPARTPolarity=Neg14 jokeadvmod
12asasADP_14 jokecase
13aaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art14 jokedet
14jokejokeNOUNNumber=Sing1 Takingobl
15ororCCONJ_16 figurecc
16figurefigureNOUNNumber=Sing14 jokeconj
17ofofADP_18 speechcase
18speechspeechNOUNNumber=Sing16 figurenmod
19..PUNCT_1 Takingpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1takegerundwordswords's most basic exact meaningas a joke or figure of speechvn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent word=Theme as joke=Attribute
2meanwords = wordnom meaning «communication transitive»: poss=agent
3figurespeechnom 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.

amodcasenmodpunctrootTranslatedVERBwordNOUNforADPwordNOUN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1TranslatedtranslateVERBTense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass2 wordamod
2wordwordNOUNNumber=Singrootroot
3forforADP_4 wordcase
4wordwordNOUNNumber=Sing2 wordnmod
5..PUNCT_2 wordpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1translateparticiplevn turn-26.6.1 «NP V»: agent=Patient

Meaning 3

Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

Used for real, not exaggerated.

caseoblpunctadvmodconjpunctrootUsedVERBforADPrealADJ,PUNCTnotPARTexaggeratedVERB.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1UseduseVERBTense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Passrootroot
2forforADP_3 realcase
3realrealADJDegree=Pos1 Usedobl
4,,PUNCT_6 exaggeratedpunct
5notnotPARTPolarity=Neg6 exaggeratedadvmod
6exaggeratedexaggerateVERBTense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass1 Usedconj
7..PUNCT_1 Usedpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1useparticiplefor realvn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
2not exaggerateparticipletree rules

Example 1

The literal meaning of "break a leg" is to snap your leg, but it means good luck.

The tree, 17 words
detamodnsubjcasepunctacldetobjpunctcopmarknmod:possobjpunctccnsubjparataxisamodobjpunctrootTheDETliteralADJmeaningNOUNofADP"PUNCTbreakVERBaDETlegNOUN"PUNCTisAUXtoPARTsnapVERByourPRONlegNOUN,PUNCTbutCCONJitPRONmeansVERBgoodADJluckNOUN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1ThetheDETDefinite=Def PronType=Art3 meaningdet
2literalliteralADJDegree=Pos3 meaningamod
3meaningmeaningNOUNNumber=Sing12 snapnsubj
4ofofADP_6 breakcase
5""PUNCT_6 breakpunct
6breakbreakVERBVerbForm=Inf3 meaningacl
7aaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art8 legdet
8leglegNOUNNumber=Sing6 breakobj
9""PUNCT_6 breakpunct
10isbeAUXMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin12 snapcop
11totoPART_12 snapmark
12snapsnapVERBVerbForm=Infrootroot
13youryourPRONCase=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs14 legnmod:poss
14leglegNOUNNumber=Sing12 snapobj
15,,PUNCT_18 meanspunct
16butbutCCONJ_18 meanscc
17ititPRONCase=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs18 meansnsubj
18meansmeanVERBMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin12 snapparataxis
19goodgoodADJDegree=Pos20 luckamod
20luckluckNOUNNumber=Sing18 meansobj
21..PUNCT_12 snappunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1break in a quoteinfinitivethe literal meaning not said herea legvn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer leg=Patient
2ispresentthe literal meaningsnap propertytree rules
3meanpresentmeaninggood luckvn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent luck=Topic

Example 2

Don't be so literal — it was a joke!

advmodcopadvmodadvclpunctnsubjcopdetparataxispunctrootDoVERBn'tPARTbeAUXsoADVliteralADJ—PUNCTitPRONwasAUXaDETjokeNOUN!PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1DodoVERBMood=Imp VerbForm=Finrootroot
2n'tnotPARTPolarity=Neg5 literaladvmod
3bebeAUXVerbForm=Inf5 literalcop
4sosoADV_5 literaladvmod
5literalliteralADJDegree=Pos1 Doadvcl
6—-PUNCT_10 jokepunct
7ititPRONCase=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs10 jokensubj
8wasbeAUXMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin10 jokecop
9aaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art10 jokedet
10jokejokeNOUNNumber=Sing1 Doparataxis
11!!PUNCT_1 Dopunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1doimperativeyou not said herevn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
2not isinfinitiveyou not said hereliteral propertytree rules
3is apastita joketree rules

Example 3

A literal translation can sound strange in English.

detamodnsubjauxxcompcaseoblpunctrootADETliteralADJtranslationNOUNcanAUXsoundVERBstrangeADJinADPEnglishPROPN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1AaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art3 translationdet
2literalliteralADJDegree=Pos3 translationamod
3translationtranslationNOUNNumber=Sing5 soundnsubj
4cancanAUXVerbForm=Fin5 soundaux
5soundsoundVERBVerbForm=Infrootroot
6strangestrangeADJDegree=Pos5 soundxcomp
7ininADP_8 Englishcase
8EnglishEnglishPROPNNumber=Sing5 soundobl
9..PUNCT_5 soundpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1soundcana literal translationEnglishstrange propertyvn 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.

nsubjnmod:possobjadvmodccadvmodconjcasedetoblpunctrootShePRONtookVERBmyPRONwordsNOUNliterallyADVandCCONJreallyADVjumpedVERBinADPtheDETlakeNOUN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1SheshePRONCase=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs2 tooknsubj
2tooktakeVERBMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Finrootroot
3mymyPRONCase=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs4 wordsnmod:poss
4wordswordNOUNNumber=Plur2 tookobj
5literallyliterallyADV_2 tookadvmod
6andandCCONJ_8 jumpedcc
7reallyreallyADV_8 jumpedadvmod
8jumpedjumpVERBMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin2 tookconj
9ininADP_11 lakecase
10thetheDETDefinite=Def PronType=Art11 lakedet
11lakelakeNOUNNumber=Sing8 jumpedobl
12..PUNCT_2 tookpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1takepastShemy wordsliterally propertyvn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme
2jumppastShe not said herethe lakevn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in lake=Trajectory
3wordmynom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent

Example 5

In a literal sense, "breakfast" means breaking a fast.

casedetamodoblpunctpunctnsubjpunctxcompdetobjpunctrootInADPaDETliteralADJsenseNOUN,PUNCT"PUNCTbreakfastNOUN"PUNCTmeansVERBbreakingVERBaDETfastADJ.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1IninADP_4 sensecase
2aaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art4 sensedet
3literalliteralADJDegree=Pos4 senseamod
4sensesenseNOUNNumber=Sing9 meansobl
5,,PUNCT_4 sensepunct
6""PUNCT_7 breakfastpunct
7breakfastbreakfastNOUNNumber=Sing9 meansnsubj
8""PUNCT_7 breakfastpunct
9meansmeanVERBMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Finrootroot
10breakingbreakVERBVerbForm=Ger9 meansxcomp
11aaDETDefinite=Ind PronType=Art12 fastdet
12fastfastADJDegree=Pos10 breakingobj
13..PUNCT_9 meanspunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1meanpresentbreakfasta literal sensevn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic
2break not said to happengerundbreakfast not said herea fastvn 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.

detamodnsubjcopmarknsubjobjmarkadvclpunctrootTheDETliteralADJtruthNOUNisAUXthatSCONJwePRONlostVERBfiveNUMtoPARTnilVERB.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1ThetheDETDefinite=Def PronType=Art3 truthdet
2literalliteralADJDegree=Pos3 truthamod
3truthtruthNOUNNumber=Sing7 lostnsubj
4isbeAUXMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin7 lostcop
5thatthatSCONJ_7 lostmark
6wewePRONCase=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs7 lostnsubj
7lostloseVERBMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Finrootroot
8fivefiveNUMNumForm=Word NumType=Card7 lostobj
9totoPART_10 nilmark
10nilnilVERBVerbForm=Inf7 lostadvcl
11..PUNCT_7 lostpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1ispresentthe literal truthlose propertytree rules
2nilto-infinitivethe literal truth not said heretree 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
detnsubjcopadvmodpunctccconjcasecompoundnmodpunctccauxaux:passparataxiscaseamodoblmarkadvclobjxcompcaseoblpunctrootTheDETstoriesNOUNareAUXnotPARTliteralADJ,PUNCTorCCONJwordNOUNbyADPwordNOUNtranslationsNOUN,PUNCTbutCCONJhaveAUXbeenAUXalteredVERBinADPmanyADJwaysNOUNtoPARTmakeVERBthemPRONsuitableADJforADPchildrenNOUN.PUNCT
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
#wordlemmaUPOSfeaturesheadrelation
1ThetheDETDefinite=Def PronType=Art2 storiesdet
2storiesstoryNOUNNumber=Plur5 literalnsubj
3arebeAUXMood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin5 literalcop
4notnotPARTPolarity=Neg5 literaladvmod
5literalliteralADJDegree=Posrootroot
6,,PUNCT_8 wordpunct
7ororCCONJ_8 wordcc
8wordwordNOUNNumber=Sing5 literalconj
9bybyADP_11 translationscase
10wordwordNOUNNumber=Sing11 translationscompound
11translationstranslationNOUNNumber=Plur8 wordnmod
12,,PUNCT_16 alteredpunct
13butbutCCONJ_16 alteredcc
14havehaveAUXMood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin16 alteredaux
15beenbeAUXTense=Past VerbForm=Part16 alteredaux:pass
16alteredalterVERBTense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass5 literalparataxis
17ininADP_19 wayscase
18manymanyADJDegree=Pos19 waysamod
19wayswayNOUNNumber=Plur16 alteredobl
20totoPART_21 makemark
21makemakeVERBVerbForm=Inf16 alteredadvcl
22themtheyPRONCase=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs21 makeobj
23suitablesuitableADJDegree=Pos21 makexcomp
24forforADP_25 childrencase
25childrenchildNOUNNumber=Plur23 suitableobl
26..PUNCT_5 literalpunct
#verbtense, moodwhowhat, whomto whomwherewhenotherroles by
1not ispresentthe storiesliteral propertytree rules
2alterpresent · perfect · passivemany waysvn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»
3maketo-infinitivestories = storysuitable propertyvn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product
4wordword translationsnom 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.

This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literal/