---
title: firstborn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «firstborn» in the school dictionary: The first child born to a family; the eldest child. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# firstborn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** firstborn son, firstborn, Emma, Esau, firstborn kitten, you · **What happens:** bear, have, be, become, mean, help · **To what, where:** first child, special rights, Bible, part, firstborn, king · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first child born to a family; the eldest child.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:m1:1
# text = The first child born to a family; the eldest child.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	eldest	eld	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | participle |  | the first child and the eldest child *not said here* |  |  |  | to a family | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible the firstborn son had special rights and duties, and the firstborn of Egypt are part of the Passover story.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:m2:1
# text = In the Bible the firstborn son had special rights and duties, and the firstborn of Egypt are part of the Passover story.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	duties	duty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	Passover	Passover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the firstborn son | special rights and duties |  | the Bible |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent right=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the firstborn of Egypt | part |  |  |  | of the Passover story | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Emma is the firstborn, so she is the oldest of the three.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x1:1
# text = Emma is the firstborn, so she is the oldest of the three.
1	Emma	Emma	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	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Emma | the firstborn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Emma |  |  |  |  | of the three; old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king's firstborn son would one day become king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x2:1
# text = The king's firstborn son would one day become king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	firstborn	firstborn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	become	become	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | would | the king's firstborn son | king |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Esau was Isaac's firstborn son.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x3:1
# text = In the Bible, Esau was Isaac's firstborn son.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Esau	Esau	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	Isaac	Isaac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	firstborn	firstborn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Esau | Isaac's firstborn son |  | the Bible |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our cat's firstborn kitten is the biggest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x4:1
# text = Our cat's firstborn kitten is the biggest.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our cat's firstborn kitten |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being the firstborn means you often help with the little ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x5:1
# text = Being the firstborn means you often help with the little ones.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | the firstborn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | the firstborn |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **help** | present | you |  |  |  |  | with the little ones; often *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with one=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Passover story tells about the firstborn of Egypt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firstborn:x6:1
# text = The Passover story tells about the firstborn of Egypt.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Passover	Passover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	firstborn	firstborn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the Passover story |  |  |  |  | about the firstborn of Egypt | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent about firstborn=Topic |

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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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