---
title: clever — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clever» in the school dictionary: Clever means quick to learn and understand things. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clever

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Clever, clever idea, She, clever fox, He, Crows · **What happens:** mean, learn, understand, do, be, work · **To what, where:** things, something, maths, crow, models, clever birds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clever» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [clever in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clever.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clever means quick to learn and understand things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:m1:1
# text = Clever means quick to learn and understand things.
1	Clever	Clever	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Clever |  |  |  |  | quick *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Clever *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **understand** | infinitive | Clever *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer thing=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 -->
Clever means skilful at doing something, like clever with your hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:m2:1
# text = Clever means skilful at doing something, like clever with your hands.
1	Clever	Clever	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Clever |  |  |  |  | skilful *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | Clever *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clever idea or plan is smart and works well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:m3:1
# text = A clever idea or plan is smart and works well.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	smart	smart	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a clever idea or plan |  |  |  |  | smart *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | a clever idea or plan *not said here* |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's very clever at maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x1:1
# text = She's very clever at maths.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  | maths |  | clever *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What a clever idea!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x2:1
# text = What a clever idea!
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det:predet	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clever fox tricked the crow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x3:1
# text = The clever fox tricked the crow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tricked	trick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | past | the clever fox | the crow |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crow=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is clever with his hands and builds models.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x4:1
# text = He is clever with his hands and builds models.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	builds	build	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	models	model	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | with his hands; clever *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | present | He *not said here* | models |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset model=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crows are clever birds that can use tools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x5:1
# text = Crows are clever birds that can use tools.
1	Crows	crow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Crows | clever birds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | can | clever birds | tools |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tool=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's a clever way to solve the puzzle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x6:1
# text = That's a clever way to solve the puzzle.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a clever way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive |  | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What a clever creature!" thinks he.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clever:x7:1
# text = "What a clever creature!" thinks he.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creature** *in a quote* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | a clever creature | he |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot he=Theme |

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**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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