---
title: evolution — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «evolution» in the school dictionary: Evolution is how living things change over a very long time, from one generation to the next. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# evolution

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Evolution, phones, Darwin, finches, whales, cars · **What happens:** be, develop, evolve, study, explain, come · **To what, where:** one generation, anything, evolution, theory · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«evolution» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [evolution in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/evolution.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evolution is how living things change over a very long time, from one generation to the next.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:m1:1
# text = Evolution is how living things change over a very long time, from one generation to the next.
1	Evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	generation	generation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Evolution |  |  |  | from one generation to the next; time | change *property* | 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 -->
The slow change and development of anything: the evolution of phones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:m2:1
# text = The slow change and development of anything: the evolution of phones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	development	development	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **develop** |  |  | anything |  |  |  |  | nom development «act transitive»: of=patient |
| 2 | **evolve** |  | phones |  |  |  |  |  | nom evolution «process intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Darwin studied the evolution of finches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x1:1
# text = Darwin studied the evolution of finches.
1	Darwin	Darwin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | past | Darwin | the evolution of finches |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent evolution=Topic |
| 2 | **evolve** |  | finches |  |  |  |  |  | nom evolution «process intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evolution explains how whales came from land animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x2:1
# text = Evolution explains how whales came from land animals.
1	Evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	explains	explain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | Evolution |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | past | whales |  |  |  |  | from land animals | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from animal=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The evolution of cars has been fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x3:1
# text = The evolution of cars has been fast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	been	be	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present · perfect | the evolution of cars |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **evolve** |  | cars |  |  |  |  |  | nom evolution «process intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossils show evolution over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x4:1
# text = Fossils show evolution over time.
1	Fossils	fossil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Fossils | evolution |  |  | time |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent evolution=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many Christians believe God works through evolution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x5:1
# text = Many Christians believe God works through evolution.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Many Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **work** | present | God |  |  | evolution |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The theory of evolution was put forward by Charles Darwin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolution:x6:1
# text = The theory of evolution was put forward by Charles Darwin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Charles	Charles	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl:agent	_	_
10	Darwin	Darwin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put forward** | past · passive | Charles | the theory of evolution |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent subject=Goal |

<!-- 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 -->

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