---
title: inferior — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inferior» in the school dictionary: Inferior means not as good as something else, or of poor quality. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inferior

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Inferior, inferior vena cava, plastic toy, shop, inferior shoes, He · **What happens:** not mean, mean, be, carry, treat, sell · **To what, where:** person, blood, lower body, wooden one, Nobody, inferior shoes

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inferior means not as good as something else, or of poor quality.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:m1:1
# text = Inferior means not as good as something else, or of poor quality.
1	Inferior	inferior	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	2	advmod	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	else	else	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present | Inferior |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Inferior means lower in rank or position.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:m2:1
# text = Inferior means lower in rank or position.
1	Inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	ccomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	position	position	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An inferior is a person of lower rank than someone, such as a junior worker.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:m3:1
# text = An inferior is a person of lower rank than someone, such as a junior worker.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inferior	inferior	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	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	junior	junior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	worker	worker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a inferior | a person and a junior worker |  |  |  | of lower rank than someone | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science, anatomy — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inferior means lower down in the body: the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower body.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:m4:1
# text = Inferior means lower down in the body: the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower body.
1	Inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	ccomp	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	vena	vena	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cava	cava	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	amod	_	_
18	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Inferior |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **carry** | present | the inferior vena cava | blood |  | the lower body |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent blood=Theme from body=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This plastic toy is inferior to the wooden one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x1:1
# text = This plastic toy is inferior to the wooden one.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this plastic toy |  | the wooden one |  |  | inferior *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody should be treated as inferior because of their skin colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x2:1
# text = Nobody should be treated as inferior because of their skin colour.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | should · passive |  | Nobody |  |  |  | as inferior; because their skin colour | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as inferior=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop sold inferior shoes that fell apart in a week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x3:1
# text = The shop sold inferior shoes that fell apart in a week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | the shop | inferior shoes |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |
| 2 | **fall apart** | past | inferior shoes |  |  |  | week | apart *property* | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt inferior next to his clever older sister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x4:1
# text = He felt inferior next to his clever older sister.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	next	next	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  |  |  | inferior, next *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the army an officer gives orders to inferiors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x5:1
# text = In the army an officer gives orders to inferiors.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	inferiors	inferior	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | a officer | orders | inferiors | the army |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent order=Theme to inferior=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The copy was of inferior quality to the original painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x6:1
# text = The copy was of inferior quality to the original painting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	copy	copy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	original	original	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	painting	painting	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** | past | the copy |  |  |  |  | of inferior quality; to the original painting | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were socially inferior to him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inferior:x7:1
# text = They were socially inferior to him.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	socially	socially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	inferior	inferior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | They |  | him *= he* |  |  | inferior, socially *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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