---
title: fewer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fewer» in the school dictionary: Fewer means a smaller number of things: «fewer apples». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fewer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fewer, Few, Max, many fewer apples, fewer children, it · **What happens:** mean, have, be, snow, score, come · **To what, where:** smaller number, many, smallest number, 2 fewer books, fewer, school

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fewer means a smaller number of things: «fewer apples».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:m1:1
# text = Fewer means a smaller number of things: «fewer apples».
1	Fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fewer | a smaller number of things |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Few means not many; fewest means the smallest number of all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:m2:1
# text = Few means not many; fewest means the smallest number of all.
1	Few	few	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	fewest	few	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Few | many |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | the smallest number of all |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No fewer than means as many as, or more than, a surprisingly large number.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:m3:1
# text = No fewer than means as many as, or more than, a surprisingly large number.
1	No	no	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	nsubj	_	_
3	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	surprisingly	surprisingly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | fewer | many |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Max has 2 fewer books than Lily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x1:1
# text = Max has 2 fewer books than Lily.
1	Max	Max	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Lily	Lily	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Max | 2 fewer books |  |  |  | than Lily | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Max has 2 books fewer than Lily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x2:1
# text = Max has 2 books fewer than Lily.
1	Max	Max	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Lily	Lily	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many fewer apples does Tom have than Ben?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x3:1
# text = How many fewer apples does Tom have than Ben?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present · do-support | many fewer apples |  |  |  |  | than Ben | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are fewer children at school when it snows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x4:1
# text = There are fewer children at school when it snows.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	snows	snow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | fewer children |  |  | school; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at school=Location |
| 2 | **snow** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which team scored the fewest goals?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x5:1
# text = Which team scored the fewest goals?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fewest	few	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	goals	goal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **score** | past | which team | the fewest goals |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fewer than 10 people came to the show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x6:1
# text = Fewer than 10 people came to the show.
1	Fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
2	than	than	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | 10 people |  |  | the show |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to show=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spiders have fewer legs than centipedes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x7:1
# text = Spiders have fewer legs than centipedes.
1	Spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	centipedes	centipede	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 | **have** | present | Spiders | fewer legs |  |  |  | than centipedes | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eat fewer sweets and more fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x8:1
# text = Eat fewer sweets and more fruit.
1	Eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | imperative | you *not said here* | fewer sweets and more fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were no fewer than thirty blossoms on its stem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fewer:x9:1
# text = There were no fewer than thirty blossoms on its stem.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	thirty	thirty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	blossoms	blossom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **be** | past | thirty blossoms on its stem |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stem** |  | its *= it* |  |  |  |  |  | nom stem «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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