---
title: elder — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «elder» in the school dictionary: Elder means older, often said of a brother or sister: «my elder sister». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/elder/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/) / elder

# elder

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Elder, elder brother, elder sister, village elders, you, She · **What happens:** mean, say, be, respect, meet, decide · **To what, where:** older, older person, family, small tree, 12, old elder child · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Elder means older, often said of a brother or sister: «my elder sister».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:m1:1
# text = Elder means older, often said of a brother or sister: «my elder sister».
1	Elder	elder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Elder | older |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle | Elder *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of a brother or sister; often *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: 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 -->
An elder is an older person, often one who is respected and wise in a family or group.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:m2:1
# text = An elder is an older person, often one who is respected and wise in a family or group.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elder	elder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	appos	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	respected	respect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a elder | a older person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **respect** | present · passive |  |  |  | a family or group |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An elder is a small tree with white flowers and dark berries (elderberries).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:m3:1
# text = An elder is a small tree with white flowers and dark berries (elderberries).
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	elder	elder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	berries	berry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	elderberries	elderberry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a elder | a small tree |  |  |  | with white flowers and dark berries | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her elder brother is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x1:1
# text = Her elder brother is 12.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Her elder brother | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His elder sister is 4 years older than him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x2:1
# text = His elder sister is 4 years older than him.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His elder sister |  |  |  | year | than him *= he*; old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elder sister is twice as old as the younger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x3:1
# text = The elder sister is twice as old as the younger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How old is the elder child?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x4:1
# text = How old is the elder child?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the old elder child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The village elders met to decide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x5:1
# text = The village elders met to decide.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	elders	elder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | the village elders |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** | to-infinitive | the village elders *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be polite to your elders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x6:1
# text = Be polite to your elders.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	elders	elder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to your elders; polite *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is the eldest of four children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x7:1
# text = She is the eldest of four children.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
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	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made jam from elderberries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x8:1
# text = We made jam from elderberries.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	made	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	jam	jam	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	elderberries	elderberry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jam** | may | We |  |  | elderberries |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The elder brother was very angry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elder:x9:1
# text = The elder brother was very angry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	elder	elder	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	angry	angry	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** | past | the elder brother |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [elbow](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/elbow/)
- next →: [elderly](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/elderly/)
- ↑ back to [E in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/)