prefer Who acts: I, you, cat, Woodlice, Most, She · What happens: prefer, mean, like, choose, be, say · To what, where: one thing, thing, polite way, apples, tea, sun. · Speech: someone speaks here
«prefer» 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: prefer in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To prefer means to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if you can.
The tree, 17 words mark csubj mark xcomp nummod obj obj case obl punct cc mark conj obj mark nsubj advcl punct root To PART prefer VERB means VERB to PART like VERB one NUM thing NOUN more ADJ than ADP another DET , PUNCT or CCONJ to PART choose VERB it PRON if SCONJ you PRON can AUX . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 prefer mark 2 prefer prefer VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means csubj 3 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 to to PART _ 5 like mark 5 like like VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means xcomp 6 one one NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 7 thing nummod 7 thing thing NOUN Number=Sing 5 like obj 8 more more ADJ Degree=Cmp 5 like obj 9 than than ADP _ 10 another case 10 another another DET PronType=Ind 8 more obl 11 , , PUNCT _ 14 choose punct 12 or or CCONJ _ 14 choose cc 13 to to PART _ 14 choose mark 14 choose choose VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 like conj 15 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 14 choose obj 16 if if SCONJ _ 18 can mark 17 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 18 can nsubj 18 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 14 choose advcl 19 . . PUNCT _ 3 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer to-infinitive vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer 2 mean present vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 3 like not said to happen to-infinitive one thing tree rules 4 choose to-infinitive thing vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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 «I would prefer…» is a polite way to say what you want.
The tree, 12 words punct nsubj aux nsubj punct punct cop det amod mark acl obj nsubj ccomp punct root « PUNCT I PRON would AUX prefer VERB … PUNCT » PUNCT is AUX a DET polite ADJ way NOUN to PART say VERB what PRON you PRON want VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 4 prefer punct 2 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 4 prefer nsubj 3 would would AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 prefer aux 4 prefer prefer VERB VerbForm=Inf 10 way nsubj 5 … . PUNCT _ 4 prefer punct 6 » » PUNCT _ 4 prefer punct 7 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 way cop 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 way det 9 polite polite ADJ Degree=Pos 10 way amod 10 way way NOUN Number=Sing root root 11 to to PART _ 12 say mark 12 say say VERB VerbForm=Inf 10 way acl 13 what what PRON PronType=Int 15 want obj 14 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 15 want nsubj 15 want want VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 12 say ccomp 16 . . PUNCT _ 10 way punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer in a quote would I vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer 2 is a present a polite way tree rules 3 say speech: assert to-infinitive vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 4 want present you vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme
Example 1 I prefer apples to oranges.
nsubj obj case obl punct root I PRON prefer VERB apples NOUN to ADP oranges 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 prefer nsubj 2 prefer prefer VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 apples apple NOUN Number=Plur 2 prefer obj 4 to to ADP _ 5 oranges case 5 oranges orange NOUN Number=Plur 2 prefer obl 6 . . PUNCT _ 2 prefer punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer present I apples to oranges vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer apple=Stimulus
Example 2 Would you prefer tea or juice?
aux nsubj obj cc conj punct root Would AUX you PRON prefer VERB tea NOUN or CCONJ juice NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Would would AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 prefer aux 2 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 3 prefer nsubj 3 prefer prefer VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 tea tea NOUN Number=Sing 3 prefer obj 5 or or CCONJ _ 6 juice cc 6 juice juice NOUN Number=Sing 4 tea conj 7 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 prefer punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer would you tea or juice vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer tea=Stimulus
Example 3 My cat prefers sleeping in the sun.
nmod:poss nsubj xcomp case det obl root My PRON cat NOUN prefers VERB sleeping VERB in ADP the DET sun. NOUN The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 My my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 cat nmod:poss 2 cat cat NOUN Number=Sing 3 prefers nsubj 3 prefers prefer VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 sleeping sleep VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 3 prefers xcomp 5 in in ADP _ 7 sun. case 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 sun. det 7 sun. sun. NOUN Number=Sing 4 sleeping obl
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer present My cat vn admire-31.2 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus 2 sleep not said to happen gerund My cat not said here the sun. vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in sun.=Location
Example 4 I'd prefer to stay inside today.
nsubj aux mark xcomp advmod obl:unmarked punct root I PRON 'd AUX prefer VERB to PART stay VERB inside ADV today 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 3 prefer nsubj 2 'd would AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 prefer aux 3 prefer prefer VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 to to PART _ 5 stay mark 5 stay stay VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 prefer xcomp 6 inside inside ADV _ 5 stay advmod 7 today today NOUN Number=Sing 5 stay obl:unmarked 8 . . PUNCT _ 3 prefer punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer would I vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme 2 stay not said to happen to-infinitive I not said here today inside property vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
Example 5 Woodlice prefer dark, damp places.
nsubj amod punct amod obj punct root Woodlice NOUN prefer VERB dark ADJ , PUNCT damp ADJ places NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Woodlice woodlice NOUN Number=Plur 2 prefer nsubj 2 prefer prefer VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 dark dark ADJ Degree=Pos 6 places amod 4 , , PUNCT _ 3 dark punct 5 damp damp ADJ Degree=Pos 6 places amod 6 places place NOUN Number=Plur 2 prefer obj 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 prefer punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer present Woodlice dark damp places vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer place=Stimulus
Example 6 Most of the class preferred the beach to the zoo.
nsubj case det nmod det obj case det obl punct root Most ADJ of ADP the DET class NOUN preferred VERB the DET beach NOUN to ADP the DET zoo NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Most most ADJ Degree=Sup 5 preferred nsubj 2 of of ADP _ 4 class case 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 class det 4 class class NOUN Number=Sing 1 Most nmod 5 preferred prefer VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 beach det 7 beach beach NOUN Number=Sing 5 preferred obj 8 to to ADP _ 10 zoo case 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 zoo det 10 zoo zoo NOUN Number=Sing 5 preferred obl 11 . . PUNCT _ 5 preferred punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer past Most of the class the beach to the zoo vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer beach=Stimulus
Example 7 She prefers reading to watching TV.
nsubj xcomp mark advcl obj punct root She PRON prefers VERB reading VERB to SCONJ watching VERB TV 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 prefers nsubj 2 prefers prefer VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 reading read VERB VerbForm=Ger 2 prefers xcomp 4 to to SCONJ _ 5 watching mark 5 watching watch VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 3 reading advcl 6 TV TV NOUN Number=Sing 5 watching obj 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 prefers punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer present She vn admire-31.2 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus 2 read not said to happen gerund She not said here vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 watch gerund She not said here TV vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tv=Theme
Example 8 I'd prefer not to talk about it.
nsubj aux advmod mark xcomp case obl punct root I PRON 'd AUX prefer VERB not PART to PART talk VERB about ADP it PRON . 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 3 prefer nsubj 2 'd would AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 prefer aux 3 prefer prefer VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 not not PART Polarity=Neg 6 talk advmod 5 to to PART _ 6 talk mark 6 talk talk VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 prefer xcomp 7 about about ADP _ 8 it case 8 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 talk obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 prefer punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 prefer would I vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme 2 not talk not said to happen to-infinitive I not said here about it vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic
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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