---
title: less — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «less» in the school dictionary: Less means a smaller amount: less sugar. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# less

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Less, maths, Nothing, you, pen, Kim · **What happens:** mean, not mean, compare, be, talk, name · **To what, where:** smaller amount, two amounts, minus, ten eight, smallest amount, thing · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«less» in the school dictionary: its 6 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [less in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/less.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Less means a smaller amount: less sugar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m1:1
# text = Less means a smaller amount: less sugar.
1	Less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	sugar	sugar	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 | Less | a smaller amount  less sugar |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Less means not so much: less noisy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m2:1
# text = Less means not so much: less noisy.
1	Less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	_
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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Less than» compares two amounts: 5 is less than 8 (5 \< 8).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m3:1
# text = «Less than» compares two amounts: 5 is less than 8 (5 < 8).
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	nsubj	_	_
3	than	than	ADP	IN	_	2	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	compares	compare	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	amounts	amount	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	parataxis	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	conj	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	flat	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	appos	_	_
16	<	<	SYM	SYM	_	17	punct	_	_
17	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compare** | present | Less | two amounts |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Less *not said here* |  |  |  |  | less *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths talk, «less» can mean minus: ten less two is eight.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m4:1
# text = In maths talk, «less» can mean minus: ten less two is eight.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	minus	minu	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	compound	_	_
13	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	_
14	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	conj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | present | maths |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | can | less | minus |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent minu=Topic |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | ten eight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Least means the smallest amount of all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m5:1
# text = Least means the smallest amount of all.
1	Least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 6 {#m6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Nothing less than» means only the very thing named, and nothing smaller.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:m6:1
# text = «Nothing less than» means only the very thing named, and nothing smaller.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	nsubj	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	amod	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
11	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	parataxis	_	_
15	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Nothing | the thing |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 2 | **name** | participle |  | the thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you give some away to a friend, you have less: subtract.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x1:1
# text = If you give some away to a friend, you have less: subtract.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
14	subtract	subtract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | some |  |  |  | away *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent some=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | less |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent less=Patient |
| 3 | **subtract** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pen costs 3 pounds less than a book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x2:1
# text = A pen costs 3 pounds less than a book.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | a pen | 3 pounds |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme pound=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kim has less juice than Tom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x3:1
# text = Kim has less juice than Tom.
1	Kim	Kim	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Kim | less juice |  |  |  | than Tom | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent juice=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
5 is less than 9.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x4:1
# text = 5 is less than 9.
1	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | than 9; less *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
12 less 4 is 8.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x5:1
# text = 12 less 4 is 8.
1	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	compound	_	_
2	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | 12 8 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please make less noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x6:1
# text = Please make less noise.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | less noise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eat less sugar and more fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x7:1
# text = Eat less sugar and more fruit.
1	Eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | imperative | you *not said here* | less sugar and more fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sugar=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who has the least money?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x8:1
# text = Who has the least money?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  | the least money |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was accused of nothing less than murder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:less:x9:1
# text = He was accused of nothing less than murder.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	obl	_	_
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	murder	murder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accuse** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  | of nothing | vn suspect-81 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme of nothing=Attribute |

<!-- 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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