---
title: earliest — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «earliest» in the school dictionary: Earliest is the superlative of «early»: the first one in time, or the one that comes before all the others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# earliest

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** one, earliest time, earliest train, earliest memory, earliest people, We · **What happens:** be, come, not mean, leave, make, wake up · **To what, where:** Earliest superlative, others, soonest possible one, earliest, six, tools

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earliest is the superlative of «early»: the first one in time, or the one that comes before all the others.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:m1:1
# text = Earliest is the superlative of «early»: the first one in time, or the one that comes before all the others.
1	Earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	amod	_	_
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	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	before	before	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	24	det:predet	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the Earliest superlative and the first one in time |  |  |  | of early | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | present | the one |  |  | all others |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before other=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
The earliest time or moment is the soonest possible one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:m2:1
# text = The earliest time or moment is the soonest possible one.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	soonest	soon	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
9	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	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 | the earliest time or moment | the soonest possible one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the earliest means not before this time, and possibly later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:m3:1
# text = At the earliest means not before this time, and possibly later.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present |  |  |  | the earliest | time | late *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The earliest train leaves at six in the morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x1:1
# text = The earliest train leaves at six in the morning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present | the earliest train |  |  | six | morning |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent at six=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My earliest memory is of a red balloon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x2:1
# text = My earliest memory is of a red balloon.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My earliest memory |  |  |  |  | of a red balloon | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The earliest people made tools from stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x3:1
# text = The earliest people made tools from stone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the earliest people | tools |  | stone |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent tool=Product from stone=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who woke up earliest today?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x4:1
# text = Who woke up earliest today?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	woke	wake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	fixed	_	_
5	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wake up** | past |  |  |  |  | today |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We can finish the project by Friday at the earliest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x5:1
# text = We can finish the project by Friday at the earliest.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | can | We | the project |  | the earliest | friday |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector project=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cave paintings are some of the earliest art we know.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x6:1
# text = Cave paintings are some of the earliest art we know.
1	Cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	paintings	painting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | we | the earliest art *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer art=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which runner finished earliest? She had the shortest time.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Which runner finished earliest?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x7:1
# text = Which runner finished earliest?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	finished	finish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | past | which runner | earliest |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality early=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* She had the shortest time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x7:2
# text = She had the shortest time.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	shortest	short	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | runner |  |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:earliest:x8:1
# text = The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	volume	volume	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	attempts	attempt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | to-infinitive |  | the pleasant captivity |  |  | year |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent captivity=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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