---
title: immaterial — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «immaterial» in the school dictionary: Immaterial means not important or not relevant to what is being talked about. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# immaterial

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Immaterial, car, red, cost, colour, Christians · **What happens:** mean, talk about, not make, be, need, fix · **To what, where:** Immaterial, life, problem, it, walls · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«immaterial» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [immaterial in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/immaterial.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Immaterial means not important or not relevant to what is being talked about.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:m1:1
# text = Immaterial means not important or not relevant to what is being talked about.
1	Immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	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	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	relevant	relevant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
11	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	talked	talk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Immaterial |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **talk about** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V» |

<!-- .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 -->
Immaterial also means not made of matter, with no physical body, like a spirit.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:m2:1
# text = Immaterial also means not made of matter, with no physical body, like a spirit.
1	Immaterial	Immaterial	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	12	det	_	_
11	physical	physical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | present · passive |  | Immaterial |  |  |  | of matter; with no physical body; like a spirit | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whether the car is red or blue is immaterial; it needs fixing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x1:1
# text = Whether the car is red or blue is immaterial; it needs fixing.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
13	fixing	fix	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the car |  |  |  |  | red *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the car *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | red |  |  |  |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **need** | present | car |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **fix** *not said to happen* | gerund | car *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cost is immaterial if it saves a life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x2:1
# text = The cost is immaterial if it saves a life.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cost	cost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	saves	save	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the cost |  |  |  |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | cost | a life |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent life=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In this problem, the colour of the bags is immaterial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x3:1
# text = In this problem, the colour of the bags is immaterial.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the colour of the bags |  |  | this problem |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe the soul is immaterial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x4:1
# text = Christians believe the soul is immaterial.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	soul	soul	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | the soul |  |  |  |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whether he meant to break it is immaterial; it is broken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x5:1
# text = Whether he meant to break it is immaterial; it is broken.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **break** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **break** | present · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ghosts in stories are often immaterial and walk through walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x6:1
# text = Ghosts in stories are often immaterial and walk through walls.
1	Ghosts	ghost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ghosts in stories |  |  |  |  | immaterial, often *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | present | Ghosts in stories *not said here* |  |  | walls |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through wall=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:immaterial:x7:1
# text = "If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	cure	cure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	immaterial	immaterial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cure** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  | immaterial *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | present | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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