---
title: comparison — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «comparison» in the school dictionary: A comparison is when you look at two things to see how they are alike or different. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# comparison

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** comparison, things, you, Ann, Ben, class · **What happens:** be, see, say, make, compare, show · **To what, where:** two things, comparison, two numbers, 12 more pages, two plants · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«comparison» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [comparison in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/comparison.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A comparison is when you look at two things to see how they are alike or different.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:m1:1
# text = A comparison is when you look at two things to see how they are alike or different.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
12	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	alike	alike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	ccomp	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a comparison |  |  | two things |  | look *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | a comparison *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | alike *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | things *= thing* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A comparison is also saying one thing is like another, as in «as brave as a lion».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:m2:1
# text = A comparison is also saying one thing is like another, as in «as brave as a lion».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	as	as	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | a comparison |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Make a comparison of the two numbers with \> or \<.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x1:1
# text = Make a comparison of the two numbers with > or <.
1	Make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	>	>	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	<	<	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | a comparison of the two numbers |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset comparison=Product |
| 2 | **compare** |  |  | the two numbers |  |  |  |  | nom comparison «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comparison shows that Ann read 12 more pages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x2:1
# text = The comparison shows that Ann read 12 more pages.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	Ann	Ann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the comparison |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **read** | past | Ann | 12 more pages |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In comparison, Ben ran twice as far.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x3:1
# text = In comparison, Ben ran twice as far.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	8	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | Ben |  |  | comparison |  | far *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in comparison=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a comparison of 3/4 and 2/3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x4:1
# text = Write a comparison of 3/4 and 2/3.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	3/4	3/4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	2/3	2/3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a comparison of 3/4 |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comparison=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«As fast as a cheetah» is a comparison.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x5:1
# text = «As fast as a cheetah» is a comparison.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	As	as	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cheetah	cheetah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a comparison |  |  |  | as a cheetah; fast *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class made a comparison of two plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x6:1
# text = Our class made a comparison of two plants.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our class | a comparison of two plants |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset comparison=Product |
| 2 | **compare** |  |  | two plants |  |  |  |  | nom comparison «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In comparison with the elephant, the mouse is tiny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x7:1
# text = In comparison with the elephant, the mouse is tiny.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	elephant	elephant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the mouse |  |  | comparison with the elephant |  | tiny *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A worm is fat in comparison with me.'

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparison:x8:1
# text = A worm is fat in comparison with me.'
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	fat	fat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a worm |  |  | comparison |  | with me | tree rules |

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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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