---
title: literary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «literary» in the school dictionary: Literary means to do with literature: books, poems, plays and stories, and the people who write them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# literary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Literary, people, Literary language, simile, She, town · **What happens:** mean, do, write, be, use, win · **To what, where:** stories, special fancy kind, books, literary device, literary prize, literary festival · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Literary means to do with literature: books, poems, plays and stories, and the people who write them.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:m1:1
# text = Literary means to do with literature: books, poems, plays and stories, and the people who write them.
1	Literary	Literary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	plays	play	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj	_	_
19	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Literary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with literature and books and poems and plays and stories | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **write** | present | the people | stories *= story* |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 -->
Literary language is the special, fancy kind used in books, not in everyday talk.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:m2:1
# text = Literary language is the special, fancy kind used in books, not in everyday talk.
1	Literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	fancy	fancy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	everyday	everyday	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Literary language | the special fancy kind |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | the special fancy kind *not said here* |  | books |  | in everyday talk | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A simile is a literary device.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x1:1
# text = A simile is a literary device.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	simile	simile	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	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She won a literary prize for her poems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x2:1
# text = She won a literary prize for her poems.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | She | a literary prize |  |  |  | for her poems | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent prize=Theme for poem=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our town has a literary festival every summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x3:1
# text = Our town has a literary festival every summer.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	festival	festival	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Steed» is a literary word for horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x4:1
# text = «Steed» is a literary word for horse.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Steed	steed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sherlock Holmes is a famous literary detective.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x5:1
# text = Sherlock Holmes is a famous literary detective.
1	Sherlock	Sherlock	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	Holmes	Holmes	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He likes literary magazines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x6:1
# text = He likes literary magazines.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	magazines	magazine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | He | literary magazines |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot magazine=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The close of Perrault's official career marked the beginning of his period of greatest literary activity.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literary:x7:1
# text = The close of Perrault's official career marked the beginning of his period of greatest literary activity.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	close	close	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	Perrault	Perrault	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	career	career	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	marked	mark	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	greatest	great	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	17	amod	_	_
16	literary	literary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mark** | past | the close of Perrault's official career | the beginning of close's period of greatest literary activity |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent beginning=Destination |
| 2 | **begin** |  |  | close's period of greatest literary activity |  |  |  |  | nom beginning «event transitive»: of=patient |

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**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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