---
title: inca — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inca» in the school dictionary: The Incas were a people of the Andes mountains in South America who built a huge empire with its capital at Cusco, in today's Peru. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inca

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Incas, people, Inca, Inca runners, strings, Spanish soldiers · **What happens:** be, build, describe, carry, rule, record · **To what, where:** people, South America, huge empire, Cusco, title, things · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«inca» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [inca in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/inca.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Incas were a people of the Andes mountains in South America who built a huge empire with its capital at Cusco, in today's Peru.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:m1:1
# text = The Incas were a people of the Andes mountains in South America who built a huge empire with its capital at Cusco, in today's Peru.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Incas	Inca	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Andes	Ande	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	9	compound	_	_
9	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	empire	empire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
21	at	at	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	Cusco	Cusco	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	's	's	PART	POS	_	25	case	_	_
27	Peru	Peru	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Incas | a people |  | South America |  | of the Andes mountains | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | past | a people | a huge empire |  | Cusco |  | with empire's capital; in today's Peru | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent empire=Theme with capital=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
The Inca was also the title of their emperor, the ruler of the empire.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:m2:1
# text = The Inca was also the title of their emperor, the ruler of the empire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	emperor	emperor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	empire	empire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Inca | the title and the ruler of the empire |  |  |  | of title's emperor | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inca or Incan describes things from this people and empire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:m3:1
# text = Inca or Incan describes things from this people and empire.
1	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Incan	Incan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	empire	empire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Inca or Incan | things |  |  |  | from this people and empire | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inca roads, Inca gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:m3e:1
# text = Inca roads, Inca gold.
1	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Incas built Machu Picchu high in the Andes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x1:1
# text = The Incas built Machu Picchu high in the Andes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Incas	Inca	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Machu	Machu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
5	Picchu	Picchu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	_
6	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Andes	Ande	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the Incas |  |  |  |  | in the Andes; high *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in ande=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inca runners carried messages along stone roads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x2:1
# text = Inca runners carried messages along stone roads.
1	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	runners	runner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | Inca runners | messages |  |  |  | along stone roads | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Inca ruled from the city of Cusco.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x3:1
# text = The Inca ruled from the city of Cusco.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ruled	rule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Cusco	Cusco	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | past | the Inca |  |  | the city of Cusco |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Incas recorded numbers with knots on strings called quipu.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x4:1
# text = The Incas recorded numbers with knots on strings called quipu.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Incas	Inca	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	recorded	record	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	knots	knot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	quipu	quipu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | past | the Incas | numbers |  | strings |  | with knots | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent number=Theme on string=Destination |
| 2 | **call** | participle | strings *not said here* | quipu |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spanish soldiers came looking for Inca gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x5:1
# text = Spanish soldiers came looking for Inca gold.
1	Spanish	Spanish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Spanish soldiers |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | Spanish soldiers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for Inca gold | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for gold=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inca farmers grew hundreds of kinds of potato.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x6:1
# text = Inca farmers grew hundreds of kinds of potato.
1	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Inca farmers | hundreds of kinds of potato |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hundred=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walkers hike the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inca:x7:1
# text = Walkers hike the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu.
1	Walkers	walker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hike	hike	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Trail	Trail	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	Machu	Machu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	Picchu	Picchu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hike** | present | Walkers | the Inca Trail |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location trail=Theme |
| 2 | **reach** | to-infinitive | Walkers *not said here* | Machu |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent machu=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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