---
title: letter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «letter» in the school dictionary: A letter is one of the signs we use to write words, like A, b or Z. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# letter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** letter, we, you, word, mailman, She · **What happens:** be, use, write, send, stand, mean · **To what, where:** one, signs, words, written message, someone, maths · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«letter» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [letter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/letter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A letter is one of the signs we use to write words, like A, b or Z.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:m1:1
# text = A letter is one of the signs we use to write words, like A, b or Z.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	b	B	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Z	z	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a letter | one and a b or Z |  |  |  | of the signs | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | we | the signs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Patient |
| 3 | **write** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* | words |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A letter is a written message you send to someone, usually in an envelope by post.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:m2:1
# text = A letter is a written message you send to someone, usually in an envelope by post.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	send	send	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	envelope	envelope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a letter | a written message |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **send** | present | you | a written message *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent message=Theme to someone=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, a letter like x or n can stand for an unknown number.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:m3:1
# text = In maths, a letter like x or n can stand for an unknown number.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	n	n	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | can | a letter like x or n |  |  | maths |  | for a unknown number | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in math=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«To the letter» means exactly as told.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:m4:1
# text = «To the letter» means exactly as told.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	To	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the letter |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | exactly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The word «apple» has 5 letters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x1:1
# text = The word «apple» has 5 letters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the word | 5 letters |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mailman delivers 120 letters a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x2:1
# text = The mailman delivers 120 letters a day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mailman	mailman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	delivers	deliver	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	120	120	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | present | the mailman | 120 letters |  |  | day |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wrote 3 letters to her friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x3:1
# text = She wrote 3 letters to her friends.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | She | 3 letters | her friends |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent letter=Topic to friend=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let the letter n stand for the number of apples.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x4:1
# text = Let the letter n stand for the number of apples.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
4	n	n	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stand	stand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | the letter n stand |  |  |  | for the number of apples | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent stand=Theme for number=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Start every sentence with a capital letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x5:1
# text = Start every sentence with a capital letter.
1	Start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | imperative | you *not said here* | every sentence |  |  |  | with a capital letter | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.subeventuality»: agent=Agent sentence=Eventuality with letter=Subeventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The English alphabet has 26 letters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x6:1
# text = The English alphabet has 26 letters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	26	26	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	letters	letter	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** | present | the English alphabet | 26 letters |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school sent a letter home about the trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x7:1
# text = The school sent a letter home about the trip.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the school | a letter |  |  |  | about the trip; home *property* | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He posted a letter to his grandma in Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x8:1
# text = He posted a letter to his grandma in Ireland.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	posted	post	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **post** | past | He | a letter | his grandma in Ireland |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent letter=Theme to grandma=Destination |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She followed the recipe to the letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x9:1
# text = She followed the recipe to the letter.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	recipe	recipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | She | the recipe |  | the letter |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent recipe=Theme to letter=Trajectory |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What a tour that letter had made!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letter:x10:1
# text = What a tour that letter had made!
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tour	tour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · perfect · passive |  | what tour |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

<!-- 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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