---
title: abc — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abc» in the school dictionary: the ABC (or ABCs): the alphabet, the letters A to Z. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abc

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ABC, Easy, little sister, We, book, Fractions · **What happens:** be, mean, learn, sing, teach, look · **To what, where:** name, ABC, ABC song, nursery, Fractions, news

<!-- .vabout -->
«abc» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [abc in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abc.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
the ABC (or ABCs): the alphabet, the letters A to Z.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:m1:1
# text = the ABC (or ABCs): the alphabet, the letters A to Z.
1	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	ABCs	abc	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Z	z	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ABC of something: the simplest basic facts about it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:m2:1
# text = The ABC of something: the simplest basic facts about it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	simplest	simple	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
8	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	appos	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: abbreviation — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
ABC is also the name of big TV and radio companies: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the American Broadcasting Company.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:m3:1
# text = ABC is also the name of big TV and radio companies: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the American Broadcasting Company.
1	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	companies	company	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	Broadcasting	Broadcasting	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	Corporation	Corporation	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
20	Broadcasting	Broadcasting	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Company	Company	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | ABC | the name |  |  |  | of big TV and radio companies | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Easy as ABC» means very easy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:m4:1
# text = «Easy as ABC» means very easy.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Easy |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister is learning her ABC.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x1:1
# text = My little sister is learning her ABC.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present · progressive | My little sister | sister's ABC |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent abc=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sang the ABC song in nursery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x2:1
# text = We sang the ABC song in nursery.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | We | the ABC song |  | nursery |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This book teaches the ABC of looking after a pet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x3:1
# text = This book teaches the ABC of looking after a pet.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | this book |  | the ABC |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent abc=Recipient |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | the ABC *not said here* |  |  |  | after a pet |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fractions are as easy as ABC once you understand them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x4:1
# text = Fractions are as easy as ABC once you understand them.
1	Fractions	fraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	as	as	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	once	once	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	understand	understand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Fractions |  |  |  |  | as ABC; easy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | present | you | Fractions *= fraction* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the news on the ABC in Sydney.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x5:1
# text = We watched the news on the ABC in Sydney.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Sydney	Sydney	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | the news |  | the ABC in Sydney |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent news=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ABC book has a picture for every letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abc:x6:1
# text = An ABC book has a picture for every letter.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ABC	ABC	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a ABC book | a picture |  |  |  | for every letter | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**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.

<!-- /div -->

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