---
title: formerly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «formerly» in the school dictionary: Formerly means in the past, before now, but not any more. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# formerly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** café, Mrs, town, shop, He, Dublin · **What happens:** mean, use, give, name, be, cover · **To what, where:** old name, person, bank, new teacher, busy port, land

<!-- .vabout -->
«formerly» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [formerly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/formerly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Formerly means in the past, before now, but not any more.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:m1:1
# text = Formerly means in the past, before now, but not any more.
1	Formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	any	any	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in the past; formerly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in past=Attribute |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Formerly is used to give the old name of a person, place or thing.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:m2:1
# text = Formerly is used to give the old name of a person, place or thing.
1	Formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | formerly *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | the old name of a person and place or thing |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Theme |
| 3 | **name** |  |  | a person and place or thing |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The café was formerly a bank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x1:1
# text = The café was formerly a bank.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the café | a bank |  |  |  | formerly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mrs Smith, formerly Miss Jones, is our new teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x2:1
# text = Mrs Smith, formerly Miss Jones, is our new teacher.
1	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
2	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	Miss	Miss	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
6	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Mrs and formerly Miss | our new teacher |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town was formerly a busy port.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x3:1
# text = The town was formerly a busy port.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	port	port	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the town | a busy port |  |  |  | formerly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This land was formerly covered in forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x4:1
# text = This land was formerly covered in forest.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | past · passive |  | this land |  |  |  | in forest; formerly *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in forest=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop, formerly known as Toyland, has a new name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x5:1
# text = The shop, formerly known as Toyland, has a new name.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Toyland	Toyland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | participle |  | the shop *not said here* |  |  |  | as Toyland; formerly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer as toyland=Attribute |
| 2 | **have** | present | the shop | a new name |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He formerly lived in Dublin, but now he lives in Cork.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x6:1
# text = He formerly lived in Dublin, but now he lives in Cork.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Dublin	Dublin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Cork	Cork	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | He |  |  | Dublin |  | formerly *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in dublin=Location |
| 2 | **live** | present | Dublin |  |  | Cork | now |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cork=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The building was formerly used as a school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x7:1
# text = The building was formerly used as a school.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	school	school	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 | **use** | past · passive |  | the building |  |  |  | as a school; formerly *property* | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Duration as school=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She would be as ‘terribly lonely’ as he had formerly been.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formerly:x8:1
# text = She would be as ‘terribly lonely’ as he had formerly been.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	terribly	terribly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	lonely	lonely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
12	formerly	formerly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | would | She |  |  |  |  | lonely, terribly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | participle | he |  |  |  |  | formerly *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->

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