---
title: complex — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «complex» in the school dictionary: Complex means made of many connected parts and hard to understand or explain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# complex

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Complex, He, things, puzzle, human brain, We · **What happens:** mean, make, connect, understand, explain, be · **To what, where:** group, buildings, strong worried feeling, complex, new leisure complex, main clause · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«complex» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [complex in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/complex.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Complex means made of many connected parts and hard to understand or explain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:m1:1
# text = Complex means made of many connected parts and hard to understand or explain.
1	Complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	connected	connect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Complex |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of many connected parts | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **connect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **explain** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A complex is a group of buildings used for one purpose, as in «a sports complex».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:m2:1
# text = A complex is a group of buildings used for one purpose, as in «a sports complex».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	compound	_	_
18	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a complex | a group |  |  |  | of buildings | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | buildings *not said here* |  |  |  | for one purpose | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A complex is a strong, worried feeling about something, as in «He has a complex about his height».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:m3:1
# text = A complex is a strong, worried feeling about something, as in «He has a complex about his height».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	about	about	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a complex | a strong worried feeling |  |  |  | about something | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** *in a quote* | present | He | a complex |  |  |  | about his height | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent complex=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A complex is a group of things that work together, like a complex of chemicals.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:m4:1
# text = A complex is a group of things that work together, like a complex of chemicals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a complex | a group |  |  |  | of things | tree rules |
| 2 | **work together** | present | things |  |  |  |  | like a complex of chemicals; together *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This puzzle is quite complex.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x1:1
# text = This puzzle is quite complex.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	complex	complex	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The human brain is very complex.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x2:1
# text = The human brain is very complex.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	complex	complex	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We swim at the new leisure complex.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x3:1
# text = We swim at the new leisure complex.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	leisure	leisure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | We |  |  | the new leisure complex |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at complex=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A complex sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x4:1
# text = A complex sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	complex	complex	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a complex sentence | a main clause and a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has a complex about her freckles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x5:1
# text = She has a complex about her freckles.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	freckles	freckle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | a complex |  |  |  | about her freckles | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent complex=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rules of the game were too complex for my little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x6:1
# text = The rules of the game were too complex for my little brother.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	complex	complex	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the rules of the game |  |  |  |  | for my little brother; complex *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **rule** |  | the game |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is evident that the traditions from which the popular conception of the ghostly enemy has been evolved must have been of a complex and even conflicting character.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complex:x7:1
# text = It is evident that the traditions from which the popular conception of the ghostly enemy has been evolved must have been of a complex and even conflicting character.
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	cop	_	_
3	evident	evident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	traditions	tradition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nsubj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	obl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	conception	conception	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	ghostly	ghostly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
16	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	evolved	evolve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
19	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
20	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	aux	_	_
21	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	24	cop	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	complex	complex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
26	even	even	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
27	conflicting	conflict	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	24	conj	_	_
28	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | evident *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **evolve** | present · perfect · passive |  | the popular conception of the ghostly enemy |  |  |  | from the traditions | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP V NP.product PP.patient»: subject=Product from which=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | must · perfect | the traditions |  |  |  |  | of a complex | tree rules |
| 4 | **conflict** | gerund | the traditions *not said here* | character |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **conceive** |  |  | the ghostly enemy |  |  |  |  | nom conception «cognition transitive»: of=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [completion](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/completion/)
- next →: [complexion](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/complexion/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)