---
title: forerunner — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «forerunner» in the school dictionary: A forerunner is a person or thing that came before another and led the way for it: «The abacus was a forerunner of the calculator». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# forerunner

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** forerunner, person, abacus, something, gramophone, Christians · **What happens:** be, come, lead, happen, call · **To what, where:** person, way, forerunner, sign, John, forerunners · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A forerunner is a person or thing that came before another and led the way for it: «The abacus was a forerunner of the calculator».

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:m1:1
# text = A forerunner is a person or thing that came before another and led the way for it: «The abacus was a forerunner of the calculator».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	before	before	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
22	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	calculator	calculator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a forerunner | a person or thing and a forerunner |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | past | a person or thing and a forerunner |  |  |  |  | before *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **lead** | past | a person or thing and a forerunner *not said here* | the way |  |  |  | for forerunner | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | the abacus | a forerunner |  |  |  | of the calculator | 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 -->
A forerunner can be a sign that something is about to happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:m2:1
# text = A forerunner can be a sign that something is about to happen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a forerunner | a sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | something | a sign *not said here* |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The abacus was a forerunner of the calculator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x1:1
# text = The abacus was a forerunner of the calculator.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	abacus	abacus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	calculator	calculator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the abacus | a forerunner |  |  |  | of the calculator | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gramophone was a forerunner of today's music players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x2:1
# text = The gramophone was a forerunner of today's music players.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gramophone	gramophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the gramophone | a forerunner |  |  |  | of today's music players | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians call John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x3:1
# text = Christians call John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Baptist	Baptist	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | Christians |  | John |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent john=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dark clouds are often the forerunner of a storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x4:1
# text = Dark clouds are often the forerunner of a storm.
1	Dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	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 | Dark clouds | the forerunner |  |  |  | of a storm; often *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This early plane was a forerunner of the jumbo jet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x5:1
# text = This early plane was a forerunner of the jumbo jet.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	forerunner	forerunner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	jumbo	jumbo	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	jet	jet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | this early plane | a forerunner |  |  |  | of the jumbo jet | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Romans' roads were forerunners of modern motorways.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forerunner:x6:1
# text = The Romans' roads were forerunners of modern motorways.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	forerunners	forerunner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	motorways	motorway	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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** | past | the Romans's roads | forerunners |  |  |  | of modern motorways | tree rules |

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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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