---
title: latter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «latter» in the school dictionary: The latter means the second of two things or people just mentioned. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# latter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** latter, people, I, Sam, you, days · **What happens:** mean, mention, have, play, be, like · **To what, where:** end, coffee, football, apples, latter part, latter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The latter means the second of two things or people just mentioned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:m1:1
# text = The latter means the second of two things or people just mentioned.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	second	second	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	mentioned	mention	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the latter |  |  |  | second |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mention** *speech: other* | past | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that 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.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"tea or coffee? I'll have the latter" means coffee.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "tea or coffee?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:m1e:1
# text = "tea or coffee?
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'll have the latter" means coffee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:m1e:2
# text = I'll have the latter" means coffee.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | future | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** *in a quote* | present | the latter | coffee |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coffee=Topic |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Latter means near the end of a time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:m2:1
# text = Latter means near the end of a time.
1	Latter	Latter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the latter part of the film".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:m2e:1
# text = "the latter part of the film".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam and Ben both play, but the latter is better at football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x1:1
# text = Sam and Ben both play, but the latter is better at football.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	both	both	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | Sam and Ben |  |  |  |  | both *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the latter |  |  | football |  | good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Would you like apples or pears? The latter, please.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Would you like apples or pears?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x2:1
# text = Would you like apples or pears?
1	Would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pears	pear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | would | you | apples or pears |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot apple=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* The latter, please.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x2:2
# text = The latter, please.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the latter part of the year, the days get shorter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x3:1
# text = In the latter part of the year, the days get shorter.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | the days |  |  | the latter part of the year |  | short *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of cats and dogs, I prefer the latter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x4:1
# text = Of cats and dogs, I prefer the latter.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	prefer	prefer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present | I | the latter |  |  |  | of cats and dogs | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer latter=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The former is red and the latter is blue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x5:1
# text = The former is red and the latter is blue.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the former |  |  |  |  | red *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the latter |  |  |  |  | blue *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She read two books and liked the latter more.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x6:1
# text = She read two books and liked the latter more.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	liked	like	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | She | two books |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Topic |
| 2 | **like** | past | She *not said here* | more |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot more=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This latter would be useful when he began housekeeping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:latter:x7:1
# text = This latter would be useful when he began housekeeping.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	latter	latter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	housekeeping	housekeep	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | would | This |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **begin** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **housekeep** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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