---
title: evolutionary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «evolutionary» in the school dictionary: Evolutionary means to do with evolution, the very slow change of living things over many generations, as scientists explain it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# evolutionary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Evolutionary, scientists, living things, Birds, evolutionary tree, animals · **What happens:** mean, do, explain, change, share, show · **To what, where:** many generations, change, evolutionary history, evolutionary change, clues, evolutionary advantage · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evolutionary means to do with evolution, the very slow change of living things over many generations, as scientists explain it.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:m1:1
# text = Evolutionary means to do with evolution, the very slow change of living things over many generations, as scientists explain it.
1	Evolutionary	Evolutionary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	evolution	evolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
15	over	over	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	generations	generation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
20	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
21	explain	explain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Evolutionary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | over many generations | with evolution and the slow change of living things | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | scientists | change |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **change** |  | living things |  |  |  |  |  | nom change «event intransitive»: of=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 -->
Evolutionary also means changing slowly and step by step, not suddenly, as in an evolutionary change in design.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:m2:1
# text = Evolutionary also means changing slowly and step by step, not suddenly, as in an evolutionary change in design.
1	Evolutionary	Evolutionary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Evolutionary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** *not said to happen* | gerund | Evolutionary *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by step; as a evolutionary change in design; slowly, suddenly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds and dinosaurs share an evolutionary history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x1:1
# text = Birds and dinosaurs share an evolutionary history.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | present | Birds and dinosaurs | a evolutionary history |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The evolutionary tree shows how animals are related.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x2:1
# text = The evolutionary tree shows how animals are related.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the evolutionary tree |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | animals |  |  |  |  | related *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Darwin's work helped explain evolutionary change.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x3:1
# text = Darwin's work helped explain evolutionary change.
1	Darwin	Darwin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Darwin's work |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | infinitive | Darwin's work *not said here* | evolutionary change |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent change=Topic |
| 3 | **work** |  | Darwin |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossils give clues about evolutionary steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x4:1
# text = Fossils give clues about evolutionary steps.
1	Fossils	fossil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Fossils | clues |  |  |  | about evolutionary steps | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new phone is an evolutionary change, not a revolution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x5:1
# text = The new phone is an evolutionary change, not a revolution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	revolution	revolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the new phone | a evolutionary change and a revolution |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Camouflage gives animals an evolutionary advantage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evolutionary:x6:1
# text = Camouflage gives animals an evolutionary advantage.
1	Camouflage	camouflage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	evolutionary	evolutionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	advantage	advantage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Camouflage | a evolutionary advantage | animals |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent animal=Recipient advantage=Theme |

<!-- 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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