---
title: briefly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «briefly» in the school dictionary: Briefly means for a short time («I briefly saw her»). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# briefly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, you, plant, sun, rain, She · **What happens:** mean, see, tell, happen, explain, make · **To what, where:** her, me, food, shop, strange rules, more words · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Briefly means for a short time («I briefly saw her»).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:m1:1
# text = Briefly means for a short time («I briefly saw her»).
1	Briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
12	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  | time | briefly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **see** *in a quote* | past | I | her *= she* |  |  |  | briefly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Briefly means in a few words, without many details («Tell me briefly what happened»).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:m2:1
# text = Briefly means in a few words, without many details («Tell me briefly what happened»).
1	Briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	parataxis	_	_
14	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	iobj	_	_
15	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
16	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	17	nsubj	_	_
17	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a few words; briefly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in word=Attribute |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  | me |  |  | briefly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** *in a quote* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Briefly explain how a plant makes food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x1:1
# text = Briefly explain how a plant makes food.
1	Briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | briefly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present | a plant | food |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset food=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sun came out briefly before the rain started again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x2:1
# text = The sun came out briefly before the rain started again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come out** | past | the sun |  |  |  |  | briefly, out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | past | the rain |  |  |  | again |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She paused briefly before answering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x3:1
# text = She paused briefly before answering.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paused	pause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	answering	answer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pause** | past | She |  |  |  |  | briefly *property* | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell me briefly what the story is about.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x4:1
# text = Tell me briefly what the story is about.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	iobj	_	_
3	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	1	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	about	about	ADV	RB	_	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient what=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | the story |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We stopped briefly at the shop on the way home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x5:1
# text = We stopped briefly at the shop on the way home.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	home	home	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | We |  |  | the shop |  | on the way; briefly *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at shop=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lights went out briefly during the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x6:1
# text = The lights went out briefly during the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** | past | the lights |  |  |  | during the storm | briefly, out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put briefly, we lost because we didn't practise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x7:1
# text = Put briefly, we lost because we didn't practise.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | briefly *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lose** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **practise** | past · do-support | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spoke briefly to the class about safety.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x8:1
# text = He spoke briefly to the class about safety.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	safety	safety	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 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | to the class about safety; briefly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to class=Co-Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:briefly:x9:1
# text = One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Spartans	Spartan	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
16	briefly	briefly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
21	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	22	amod	_	_
22	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
23	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux:pass	_	_
25	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Spartans | the strange rules |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent which=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | should · past | Spartans *= spartan* |  |  |  |  | briefly, speak *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **use** | infinitive | Spartans *= spartan* *not said here* | more words |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 4 | **need** | past · passive |  | more words *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF» |

<!-- 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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