---
title: adjective — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «adjective» in the school dictionary: An adjective is a word that describes a noun, telling us more about a person, place or thing, like «big», «red», «happy» or «three». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# adjective

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** adjective, word, Adjectives, tree, Fluffy, you · **What happens:** be, describe, tell, come, seem, add · **To what, where:** word, noun, more, us, adjective, two adjectives · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«adjective» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [adjective in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/adjective.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An adjective is a word that describes a noun, telling us more about a person, place or thing, like «big», «red», «happy» or «three».

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:m1:1
# text = An adjective is a word that describes a noun, telling us more about a person, place or thing, like «big», «red», «happy» or «three».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
12	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	iobj	_	_
13	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	obj	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	like	like	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
27	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
31	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	_
34	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
35	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	36	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a adjective | a word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | present | a word | a noun |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent noun=Theme |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | a word *not said here* | more | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient more=Topic |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adjectives can come before a noun («a tall tree») or after verbs like «is» and «seems» («the tree is tall»).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:m2:1
# text = Adjectives can come before a noun («a tall tree») or after verbs like «is» and «seems» («the tree is tall»).
1	Adjectives	adjective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	after	after	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	verbs	verb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
17	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	_
25	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nsubj	_	_
29	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	cop	_	_
30	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | can | Adjectives |  |  | a noun or verbs |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before noun=Location |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | Adjectives *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the tree |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Fluffy» is an adjective in «a fluffy kitten».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x1:1
# text = «Fluffy» is an adjective in «a fluffy kitten».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	fluffy	fluffy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fluffy | a adjective |  |  |  | in a fluffy kitten | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add two adjectives to describe the monster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x2:1
# text = Add two adjectives to describe the monster.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	adjectives	adjective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	monster	monster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | two adjectives |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adjective=Patient |
| 2 | **describe** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the monster |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent monster=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Happy» is an adjective; «happiness» is a noun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x3:1
# text = «Happy» is an adjective; «happiness» is a noun.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Happy | a adjective and a noun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | happiness | a noun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comparative of the adjective «big» is «bigger».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x4:1
# text = The comparative of the adjective «big» is «bigger».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the comparative of the adjective |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In «The sky is blue», «blue» is an adjective after the verb.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x5:1
# text = In «The sky is blue», «blue» is an adjective after the verb.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
15	after	after	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the sky |  |  |  |  | blue *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* |  | the sky *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | blue | a adjective |  |  | after the verb |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use an adjective of colour and one of size: «a small green frog».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x6:1
# text = Use an adjective of colour and one of size: «a small green frog».
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a adjective of colour |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent adjective=Theme clause=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Good, better, best» are forms of one adjective.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adjective:x7:1
# text = «Good, better, best» are forms of one adjective.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	reparandum	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	forms	form	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | best forms |  |  |  | of one adjective | 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 -->

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