---
title: abstract — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abstract» in the school dictionary: Being an idea or feeling rather than a thing you can touch or see: love, fairness and time are abstract. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abstract

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, idea, Happiness, painting, Bravery, experiment · **What happens:** be, feel, touch, see, not show, use · **To what, where:** idea, thing, real things, shapes, science article, something · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«abstract» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [abstract in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abstract.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being an idea or feeling rather than a thing you can touch or see: love, fairness and time are abstract.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:m1:1
# text = Being an idea or feeling rather than a thing you can touch or see: love, fairness and time are abstract.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	9	cc	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	touch	touch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
16	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	fairness	fairness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
22	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | a idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | gerund |  | a thing |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 3 | **touch** | can | you | a thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme thing=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **see** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **is** | present | a idea |  |  |  |  | abstract *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
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 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not showing real things but using shapes, colours and lines: an abstract painting.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:m2:1
# text = Not showing real things but using shapes, colours and lines: an abstract painting.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
7	shapes	shape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **show** | gerund |  | real things |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent thing=Recipient painting=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  | shapes and colours and lines |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short summary at the start of a science article or report.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:m3:1
# text = A short summary at the start of a science article or report.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	summary	summary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	article	article	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** |  |  | a science article or report |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take something out, or to pick out the main ideas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:m4:1
# text = To take something out, or to pick out the main ideas.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	pick	pick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take out** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **pick out** | to-infinitive |  | the main ideas |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Happiness" is an abstract noun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x1:1
# text = "Happiness" is an abstract noun.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Happiness | a abstract noun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The painting was abstract: just red squares and blue lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x2:1
# text = The painting was abstract: just red squares and blue lines.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the painting |  |  |  |  | red squares and blue lines *obl*; abstract *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bravery is abstract; you can't hold it in your hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x3:1
# text = Bravery is abstract; you can't hold it in your hand.
1	Bravery	bravery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Bravery |  |  |  |  | abstract *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **hold** | can | you | Bravery |  | your hand |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Theme in hand=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the abstract to see what the experiment found.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x4:1
# text = Read the abstract to see what the experiment found.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	abstract	abstract	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the abstract |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent abstract=Topic |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **find** | past | the experiment |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fractions felt very abstract until we used pizza slices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x5:1
# text = Fractions felt very abstract until we used pizza slices.
1	Fractions	fraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	pizza	pizza	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	slices	slice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | Fractions |  |  |  |  | abstract *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **use** | past | we | pizza slices |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slice=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made abstract art with splashes of paint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x6:1
# text = We made abstract art with splashes of paint.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	splashes	splash	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | abstract art |  |  |  | with splashes of paint | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent art=Product |
| 2 | **splash** |  | paint |  |  |  |  |  | nom splash «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Chair" is concrete, but "comfort" is abstract.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x7:1
# text = "Chair" is concrete, but "comfort" is abstract.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	concrete	concrete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	comfort	comfort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Chair | concrete |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | comfort | concrete *not said here* |  |  |  | abstract *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
\[239\] Kruchina, as an abstract idea, is of the feminine gender.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstract:x8:1
# text = [239] Kruchina, as an abstract idea, is of the feminine gender.
1	[	[	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	239	239	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	]	]	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Kruchina	Kruchina	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	abstract	abstract	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	feminine	feminine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	gender	gender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Kruchina |  |  |  |  | of the feminine gender | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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