---
title: general — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «general» in the school dictionary: General means about most people or things, not one in particular: «a general rule». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# general

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** General, general cats, you, We, park, general mood · **What happens:** mean, give, be, sleep, have, wash · **To what, where:** main idea, ranking officer, army, lot, general idea, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«general» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [general in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/general.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
General means about most people or things, not one in particular: «a general rule».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:m1:1
# text = General means about most people or things, not one in particular: «a general rule».
1	General	general	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	appos	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | General |  |  |  |  | about most people or things | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=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 -->
General means not detailed, giving the main idea: «a general idea».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:m2:1
# text = General means not detailed, giving the main idea: «a general idea».
1	General	general	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	detailed	detailed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | General |  |  |  |  | detailed *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **give** | gerund |  | the main idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
General means for everyone or everything: «general knowledge».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:m3:1
# text = General means for everyone or everything: «general knowledge».
1	General	general	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A general is a very high-ranking officer in an army.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:m4:1
# text = A general is a very high-ranking officer in an army.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	general	general	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	ranking	ranking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a general | a ranking officer |  | a army |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In general, cats sleep a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x1:1
# text = In general, cats sleep a lot.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present | general cats | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you give me a general idea of the story?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x2:1
# text = Can you give me a general idea of the story?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | can | you | a general idea of the story | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient idea=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a general knowledge quiz.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x3:1
# text = We had a general knowledge quiz.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	quiz	quiz	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 | **have** | past | We | a general knowledge quiz |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent quiz=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a general rule, wash your hands before eating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x4:1
# text = As a general rule, wash your hands before eating.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  | as a general rule | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find a general rule for the number pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x5:1
# text = Find a general rule for the number pattern.
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* | a general rule |  |  |  | for the number pattern | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent rule=Theme for pattern=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The general led his army into battle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x6:1
# text = The general led his army into battle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	battle	battle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | the general | his army |  | battle |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent army=Theme into battle=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The park is open to the general public.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x7:1
# text = The park is open to the general public.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	public	public	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the park |  |  |  |  | to the general public; open *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The general mood in class was happy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x8:1
# text = The general mood in class was happy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mood	mood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the general mood in class |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I am astonished also!" said the General.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:general:x9:1
# text = "I am astonished also!" said the General.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	astonished	astonished	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	General	General	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the General *= general* |  |  |  |  | astonished *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the General |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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