merely Who acts: something, It, He, I, wolf, dog · What happens: mean, show, be, not be, shrug, walk away · To what, where: nothing, joke, scratch, question, sorry, cake · Speech: someone speaks here
«merely» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: merely in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.
Merely means only or just, showing that something is small or not important.
The tree, 13 words advmod advmod cc advmod punct xcomp mark nsubj cop ccomp cc advmod conj punct root Merely ADV means VERB only ADV or CCONJ just ADV , PUNCT showing VERB that SCONJ something PRON is AUX small ADJ or CCONJ not PART important ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Merely merely ADV _ 2 means advmod 2 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 only only ADV _ 7 showing advmod 4 or or CCONJ _ 7 showing cc 5 just just ADV _ 7 showing advmod 6 , , PUNCT _ 7 showing punct 7 showing show VERB VerbForm=Ger 2 means xcomp 8 that that SCONJ _ 11 small mark 9 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 11 small nsubj 10 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 11 small cop 11 small small ADJ Degree=Pos 7 showing ccomp 12 or or CCONJ _ 14 important cc 13 not not PART Polarity=Neg 14 important advmod 14 important important ADJ Degree=Pos 11 small conj 15 . . PUNCT _ 2 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present merely property vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 show not said to happen gerund vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 is present something small property tree rules 4 not be something not said here tree rules
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 Merely can mean nothing more than.
advmod aux obj amod fixed punct root Merely ADV can AUX mean VERB nothing PRON more ADJ than ADP . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Merely merely ADV _ 3 mean advmod 2 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 mean aux 3 mean mean VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 nothing nothing PRON Number=Sing PronType=Neg 3 mean obj 5 more more ADJ Degree=Cmp 4 nothing amod 6 than than ADP _ 5 more fixed 7 . . PUNCT _ 3 mean punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean can nothing merely property vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Topic
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:
"It was merely a joke".
punct nsubj cop advmod det punct punct root " PUNCT It PRON was AUX merely ADV a DET joke NOUN " PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 6 joke punct 2 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 joke nsubj 3 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 joke cop 4 merely merely ADV _ 6 joke advmod 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 joke det 6 joke joke NOUN Number=Sing root root 7 " " PUNCT _ 6 joke punct 8 . . PUNCT _ 6 joke punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a in a quote past It a joke merely property tree rules
Example 1 It was merely a scratch, not a big cut.
nsubj cop advmod det punct advmod det amod conj punct root It PRON was AUX merely ADV a DET scratch NOUN , PUNCT not PART a DET big ADJ cut NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 5 scratch nsubj 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 scratch cop 3 merely merely ADV _ 5 scratch advmod 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 scratch det 5 scratch scratch NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 , , PUNCT _ 10 cut punct 7 not not PART Polarity=Neg 10 cut advmod 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 cut det 9 big big ADJ Degree=Pos 10 cut amod 10 cut cut NOUN Number=Sing 5 scratch conj 11 . . PUNCT _ 5 scratch punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a past It a scratch and a big cut merely property tree rules
Example 2 He merely shrugged and walked away.
nsubj advmod cc conj advmod punct root He PRON merely ADV shrugged VERB and CCONJ walked VERB away ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 shrugged nsubj 2 merely merely ADV _ 3 shrugged advmod 3 shrugged shrug VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 and and CCONJ _ 5 walked cc 5 walked walk VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 shrugged conj 6 away away ADV _ 5 walked advmod 7 . . PUNCT _ 3 shrugged punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 shrug past He merely property vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 walk away past He not said here away property vn resign-10.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 3 I was merely asking a question.
nsubj aux advmod det obj punct root I PRON was AUX merely ADV asking VERB a DET question 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 4 asking nsubj 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 4 asking aux 3 merely merely ADV _ 4 asking advmod 4 asking ask VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part root root 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 question det 6 question question NOUN Number=Sing 4 asking obj 7 . . PUNCT _ 4 asking punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 ask speech: ask past · progressive I a question merely property vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient
Example 4 Merely 2 of the 30 pupils were late.
advmod case det nummod obl cop advmod punct root Merely ADV 2 NUM of ADP the DET 30 NUM pupils NOUN were AUX late ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Merely merely ADV _ 2 2 advmod 2 2 2 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card root root 3 of of ADP _ 6 pupils case 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 pupils det 5 30 30 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 6 pupils nummod 6 pupils pupil NOUN Number=Plur 8 late obl 7 were be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 8 late cop 8 late late ADV Degree=Pos 2 2 advmod 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 2 punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is past of the 30 pupils; late property tree rules
Example 5 The wolf was not merely hungry, but starving.
det nsubj cop advmod advmod punct cc conj punct root The DET wolf NOUN was AUX not PART merely ADV hungry ADJ , PUNCT but CCONJ starving VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 wolf det 2 wolf wolf NOUN Number=Sing 6 hungry nsubj 3 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 hungry cop 4 not not PART Polarity=Neg 6 hungry advmod 5 merely merely ADV _ 6 hungry advmod 6 hungry hungry ADJ Degree=Pos root root 7 , , PUNCT _ 9 starving punct 8 but but CCONJ _ 9 starving cc 9 starving starve VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 6 hungry conj 10 . . PUNCT _ 6 hungry punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not is past the wolf hungry, merely property tree rules 2 starve gerund the wolf not said here tree rules
Example 6 The dog is merely playing; it won't bite.
det nsubj aux advmod punct nsubj aux advmod parataxis punct root The DET dog NOUN is AUX merely ADV playing VERB ; PUNCT it PRON wo AUX n't PART bite VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 dog det 2 dog dog NOUN Number=Sing 5 playing nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 playing aux 4 merely merely ADV _ 5 playing advmod 5 playing play VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part root root 6 ; ; PUNCT _ 10 bite punct 7 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 bite nsubj 8 wo will AUX VerbForm=Fin 10 bite aux 9 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 10 bite advmod 10 bite bite VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 playing parataxis 11 . . PUNCT _ 5 playing punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 play present · progressive the dog merely property vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 not bite future dog vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent
Example 7 Saying sorry is not merely polite, it is kind.
csubj obj cop advmod advmod punct nsubj cop conj punct root Saying VERB sorry ADJ is AUX not PART merely ADV polite ADJ , PUNCT it PRON is AUX kind ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Saying say VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 6 polite csubj 2 sorry sorry ADJ Degree=Pos 1 Saying obj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 6 polite cop 4 not not PART Polarity=Neg 6 polite advmod 5 merely merely ADV _ 6 polite advmod 6 polite polite ADJ Degree=Pos root root 7 , , PUNCT _ 10 kind punct 8 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 kind nsubj 9 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 kind cop 10 kind kind ADJ Degree=Pos 6 polite conj 11 . . PUNCT _ 6 polite punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 say speech: assert gerund sorry vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent sorry=Topic 2 not is present Saying merely, polite property tree rules 3 is present it kind property tree rules
Example 8 She merely looked at the cake, but did not eat it.
nsubj advmod case det obl punct cc aux advmod conj obj punct root She PRON merely ADV looked VERB at ADP the DET cake NOUN , PUNCT but CCONJ did AUX not PART eat VERB it PRON . 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 3 looked nsubj 2 merely merely ADV _ 3 looked advmod 3 looked look VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 at at ADP _ 6 cake case 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 cake det 6 cake cake NOUN Number=Sing 3 looked obl 7 , , PUNCT _ 11 eat punct 8 but but CCONJ _ 11 eat cc 9 did do AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 11 eat aux 10 not not PART Polarity=Neg 11 eat advmod 11 eat eat VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 3 looked conj 12 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 11 eat obj 13 . . PUNCT _ 3 looked punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 look past She at the cake; merely property vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at cake=Theme 2 not eat past · do-support She not said here cake vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient
Example 9 And the man replied, ‘Why, I’ve merely been gathering a handful of brushwood.’
The tree, 14 words cc det nsubj punct punct advmod punct nsubj aux advmod aux advcl det obj case nmod punct punct root And CCONJ the DET man NOUN replied VERB , PUNCT ‘ PUNCT Why ADV , PUNCT I PRON ’ve AUX merely ADV been AUX gathering VERB a DET handful NOUN of ADP brushwood NOUN . PUNCT ’ PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 And and CCONJ _ 4 replied cc 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 man det 3 man man NOUN Number=Sing 4 replied nsubj 4 replied reply VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 5 , , PUNCT _ 7 Why punct 6 ‘ ' PUNCT _ 7 Why punct 7 Why why ADV PronType=Int 4 replied advmod 8 , , PUNCT _ 13 gathering punct 9 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 13 gathering nsubj 10 ’ve have AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 13 gathering aux 11 merely merely ADV _ 13 gathering advmod 12 been be AUX Tense=Past VerbForm=Part 13 gathering aux 13 gathering gather VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 4 replied advcl 14 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 15 handful det 15 handful handful NOUN Number=Sing 13 gathering obj 16 of of ADP _ 17 brushwood case 17 brushwood brushwood NOUN Number=Sing 15 handful nmod 18 . . PUNCT _ 13 gathering punct 19 ’ ' PUNCT _ 4 replied punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 reply speech: assert past the man vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 gather present · perfect · progressive I a handful of brushwood merely property vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent handful=Theme
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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