simple
part of speech
adjective (simple, simpler, simplest)
meaning for a pupil
1) Simple means easy to understand or do, not complicated. tree →
2) Simple means plain, without decoration or extra things. tree →
3) Simple can mean basic and made of few parts. tree →
sense in the lessons
In school, «simple» tasks are easy; «simple sentences» have one main clause; in maths, «simplify a fraction» means make it simpler (4/8 = 1/2), and simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel and axle, ramp) are basic tools in science. In everyday life, simple food or a simple dress is plain. In stories, «the simple life» is life without luxuries. Phrase: «It's as simple as that.»
examples
- The instructions were simple to follow. tree →
- This is a simple sum: 2 + 3. tree →
- She wore a simple white dress. tree →
- A lever is a simple machine. tree →
- Write a simple sentence with one verb. tree →
- The simplest answer is often the right one. tree →
- Simplify the fraction 6/9 to 2/3. tree →
- But Mowgli’s plan was simple enough. tree →
note
Comparative «simpler», superlative «simplest». Adverb «simply». Verb «simplify», noun «simplicity». In maths, «simplest form» of a fraction means you cannot divide top and bottom by the same number any more. «Simple» is not always «easy»: a simple idea can still take time.
In the corpora
- A parent sleeping on the sofa for a few nights may mean a disagreement, or something simple like snoring or a bad back.
- A few quiet minutes, a hug, or a simple «Are you OK?» often help most.
- A headline word like «Megxit» or «snub» makes a complicated choice sound simple and nasty.
- A family rule like "if anything odd comes on, switch off and tell" makes the next time simple.
- Even simple recipes from a bot can have mistakes, such as a missing ingredient.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «simple» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.