---
title: brevity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «brevity» in the school dictionary: Using few words; being short and to the point when speaking or writing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# brevity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Using, shortness, teacher, my, I, Brevity · **What happens:** use, be, speak, last, praise, answer · **To what, where:** few words, brevity, main points, soul, us, beauty · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Using few words; being short and to the point when speaking or writing.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:m1:1
# text = Using few words; being short and to the point when speaking or writing.
1	Using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
5	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
12	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund |  | few words |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | Using |  |  |  |  | short *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | Using *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shortness of time something lasts, as in «the brevity of life».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:m2:1
# text = The shortness of time something lasts, as in «the brevity of life».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shortness	shortness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lasts	last	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | present | the shortness of time |  |  |  |  | as the brevity of life | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher praised the brevity of my answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x1:1
# text = The teacher praised the brevity of my answer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	praised	praise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **praise** | past | the teacher | the brevity of my answer |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brevity=Theme |
| 2 | **answer** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For brevity, I will only list the main points.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x2:1
# text = For brevity, I will only list the main points.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	list	list	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **list** | future | I | the main points |  |  |  | for brevity | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brevity is the soul of wit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x3:1
# text = Brevity is the soul of wit.
1	Brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	soul	soul	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	wit	wit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The brevity of the summer made us sad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x4:1
# text = The brevity of the summer made us sad.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	sad	sad	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 | **make** | past | the brevity of the summer | us |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset we=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Text messages need brevity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x5:1
# text = Text messages need brevity.
1	Text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Text messages | brevity |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot brevity=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The speech was famous for its brevity: only two minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x6:1
# text = The speech was famous for its brevity: only two minutes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	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 speech |  |  |  |  | for speech's brevity; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Haiku poems show the beauty of brevity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brevity:x7:1
# text = Haiku poems show the beauty of brevity.
1	Haiku	haiku	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beauty	beauty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	brevity	brevity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Haiku poems | the beauty of brevity |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent beauty=Recipient |

<!-- 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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