---
title: eldest — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «eldest» in the school dictionary: Eldest means oldest, used for people in the same family: «my eldest brother». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# eldest

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** eldest, Tom, eldest sister, eldest daughter, Sara, eldest brother · **What happens:** mean, use, be, look, fail, undertake · **To what, where:** oldest child, family, university, 12, fairy tales, task

<!-- .vabout -->
«eldest» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [eldest in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/eldest.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eldest means oldest, used for people in the same family: «my eldest brother».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:m1:1
# text = Eldest means oldest, used for people in the same family: «my eldest brother».
1	Eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:agent	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	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	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	16	amod	_	_
16	brother	brother	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 |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «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 -->
The eldest is the oldest child in a family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:m2:1
# text = The eldest is the oldest child in a family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	nsubj	_	_
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	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x1:1
# text = Tom is the eldest of four children.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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 | Tom |  |  |  |  | of four children; eld *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My eldest sister is at university.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x2:1
# text = My eldest sister is at university.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	university	university	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** | present | My eldest sister |  |  | university |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eldest daughter looked after the little ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x3:1
# text = The eldest daughter looked after the little ones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	daughter	daughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the eldest daughter |  |  |  | after the little ones |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sara is 12, Ben 9, Mo 7; who is the eldest?

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x4:1
# text = Sara is 12, Ben 9, Mo 7; who is the eldest?
1	Sara	Sara	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	_
6	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	Mo	Mo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:unmarked	_	_
9	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sara | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | eld *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In fairy tales the eldest brother often fails first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x5:1
# text = In fairy tales the eldest brother often fails first.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	fails	fail	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fail** | present | the eldest brother |  |  | fairy tales |  | first, often *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent in tale=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's my eldest. (her oldest child)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* She's my eldest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x6:1
# text = She's my eldest.
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	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (her oldest child)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x6:2
# text = (her oldest child)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	amod	_	_
4	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Well, the eldest son undertook the task.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:eldest:x7:1
# text = Well, the eldest son undertook the task.
1	Well	well	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	task	task	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

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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.

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