---
title: literature — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «literature» in the school dictionary: Written works such as novels, poems and plays, especially ones thought to be good or important. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# literature

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** study, We, Shakespeare, literature, museum, sister · **What happens:** write, think, be, work, study, print · **To what, where:** ones, these, poems, literature class, famous name, English literature

<!-- .vabout -->
«literature» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [literature in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/literature.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Written works such as novels, poems and plays, especially ones thought to be good or important.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:m1:1
# text = Written works such as novels, poems and plays, especially ones thought to be good or important.
1	Written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	works	work	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	5	case	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	_
5	novels	novel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	plays	play	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
13	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	acl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
15	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	cop	_	_
16	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	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 | **think** *speech: other* | participle |  | ones *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
The study of these works as a school or university subject.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:m2:1
# text = The study of these works as a school or university subject.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	these	this	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	2	nmod	_	_
5	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | the study of these |  |  |  |  | as a school or university subject | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.attribute PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent as school=Attribute |
| 2 | **study** |  |  | these |  |  |  |  | nom study «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All the writing about a particular subject, such as science papers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:m3:1
# text = All the writing about a particular subject, such as science papers.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	papers	paper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Printed information such as leaflets and booklets: free literature about the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:m4:1
# text = Printed information such as leaflets and booklets: free literature about the museum.
1	Printed	print	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	5	case	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	_
5	leaflets	leaflet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	booklets	booklet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **print** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are reading poems in literature class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x1:1
# text = We are reading poems in literature class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present · progressive | We | poems |  | literature class |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shakespeare is a famous name in English literature.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x2:1
# text = Shakespeare is a famous name in English literature.
1	Shakespeare	Shakespeare	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Children's literature includes picture books and novels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x3:1
# text = Children's literature includes picture books and novels.
1	Children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	novels	novel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | present | Children's literature | picture books and novels |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum gives out free literature at the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x4:1
# text = The museum gives out free literature at the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	door	door	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 | **give out** | present | the museum | free literature |  | the door |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent literature=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister wants to study literature at university.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x5:1
# text = My sister wants to study literature at university.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | My sister |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **study** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | My sister *not said here* | literature |  | university |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent literature=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist read all the literature on frogs before her experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x6:1
# text = The scientist read all the literature on frogs before her experiment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the scientist | all literature |  |  | before scientist's experiment | on frogs | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent literature=Topic |
| 2 | **experiment** |  | scientist |  |  |  |  |  | nom experiment «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fairy tales are some of the oldest literature in the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x7:1
# text = Fairy tales are some of the oldest literature in the world.
1	Fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good literature makes you think and feel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:literature:x8:1
# text = Good literature makes you think and feel.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Good literature | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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