---
title: initially — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «initially» in the school dictionary: Initially means at the beginning, at first, before anything changed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# initially

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** anything, It, he, Sam, she, tank · **What happens:** mean, change, show, say, have, hold · **To what, where:** beginning, first plan, 20 marbles, many, 50 litres, friends · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially means at the beginning, at first, before anything changed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:m1:1
# text = Initially means at the beginning, at first, before anything changed.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
12	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  | at the beginning | initially *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | past | anything |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
It can also show that a first plan or idea was later changed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:m2:1
# text = It can also show that a first plan or idea was later changed.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
12	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	13	advmod	_	_
13	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | can | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | past · passive |  | a first plan or idea |  |  |  | late *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially he said no, but then he said yes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:m2e:1
# text = Initially he said no, but then he said yes.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  | initially *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent no=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  | then |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially, Sam had 20 marbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x1:1
# text = Initially, Sam had 20 marbles.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Sam | 20 marbles |  |  |  | initially *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marble=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many did she have initially?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x2:1
# text = How many did she have initially?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past · do-support | she | many |  |  |  | initially *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent many=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially the tank held 50 litres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x3:1
# text = Initially the tank held 50 litres.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	litres	litre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the tank | 50 litres |  |  |  | initially *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litre=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially there were 12 birds on the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x4:1
# text = Initially there were 12 birds on the tree.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | 12 birds on the tree |  |  | there |  | initially *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially I was scared of the dog, but now we are friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x5:1
# text = Initially I was scared of the dog, but now we are friends.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	13	advmod	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | of the dog; initially, scared *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | we | friends |  |  | now |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plant was initially 5 cm tall and grew 2 cm a week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x6:1
# text = The plant was initially 5 cm tall and grew 2 cm a week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the plant |  |  |  |  | 5 cm *obl:unmarked*; initially, tall *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | past | the plant *not said here* | 2 cm  a week |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location cm=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially the team lost, but they won the second half.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x7:1
# text = Initially the team lost, but they won the second half.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	amod	_	_
11	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle | the team |  |  |  |  | initially *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **win** | past | they | the second half |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent half=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Initially the water was cold; after an hour it was warm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:initially:x8:1
# text = Initially the water was cold; after an hour it was warm.
1	Initially	initially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the water |  |  |  |  | cold, initially *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | water |  |  |  | hour | warm *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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