---
title: beginning — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «beginning» in the school dictionary: The beginning is the first part or the start of something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# beginning

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** beginning, Ben, 15 birds, Zoe, story, you · **What happens:** be, start, begin, have, read, get · **To what, where:** first part, something, ing form, many cards, beginning, 20 cents · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«beginning» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [beginning in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/beginning.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The beginning is the first part or the start of something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:m1:1
# text = The beginning is the first part or the start of something.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the beginning | the first part or the start of something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Beginning is also the -ing form of begin: «It is beginning to rain».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:m2:1
# text = Beginning is also the -ing form of begin: «It is beginning to rain».
1	Beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	begin	begin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Beginning | the ing form |  |  |  | of begin | tree rules |
| 2 | **begin** *in a quote* | present · progressive | Beginning |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many cards did Ben have in the beginning?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x1:1
# text = How many cards did Ben have in the beginning?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past · do-support | Ben | many cards |  |  | in the beginning |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the beginning, there were 15 birds on the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x2:1
# text = In the beginning, there were 15 birds on the tree.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	6	expl	_	_
6	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | 15 birds on the tree |  |  | there | in the beginning |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in beginning=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the beginning of the day, Zoe had 20 cents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x3:1
# text = At the beginning of the day, Zoe had 20 cents.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	Zoe	Zoe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	cents	cent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Zoe | 20 cents |  |  | at the beginning of the day |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cent=Patient |
| 2 | **begin** |  |  | the day |  |  |  |  | nom beginning «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x4:1
# text = Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | every story | a beginning and a middle and a end |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beginning=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the book from beginning to end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x5:1
# text = Read the book from beginning to end.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	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 book |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Topic |
| 2 | **begin** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  | to end |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is beginning to snow!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x6:1
# text = It is beginning to snow!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | present · progressive | It | snow |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snow=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the beginning of the year, we got new books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x7:1
# text = At the beginning of the year, we got new books.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | we | new books |  |  | at the beginning of the year |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent book=Theme at beginning=Asset |
| 2 | **begin** |  |  | the year |  |  |  |  | nom beginning «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The beginning of the film was scary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x8:1
# text = The beginning of the film was scary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the beginning of the film |  |  |  |  | scary *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **begin** |  |  | the film |  |  |  |  | nom beginning «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The apples were beginning to roast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:beginning:x9:1
# text = The apples were beginning to roast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	roast	roast	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past · progressive | the apples |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **roast** | to-infinitive | the apples *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=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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