---
title: major — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «major» in the school dictionary: Very important, big or serious (a major problem, a major road). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# major

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** major key, main subject, subject, major accident, Reading, song · **What happens:** sound, study, major, be, lead, stay away · **To what, where:** university, student, maths, motorway, major part, C

<!-- .vabout -->
«major» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [major in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/major.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very important, big or serious (a major problem, a major road).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:m1:1
# text = Very important, big or serious (a major problem, a major road).
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An army officer of middle rank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:m2:1
# text = An army officer of middle rank.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	middle	middle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A major key or scale sounds bright and happy (C major).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:m3:1
# text = A major key or scale sounds bright and happy (C major).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	C	c	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | a major key or scale |  |  |  |  | bright *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The main subject a student studies at university, or to study it as the main subject (she majored in maths).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:m4:1
# text = The main subject a student studies at university, or to study it as the main subject (she majored in maths).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	student	student	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	studies	study	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	majored	major	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | the main subject |  |  | university |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **study** | to-infinitive | the main subject *not said here* | student |  |  |  | as the main subject | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.value»: agent=Agent it=Theme as subject=Value |
| 3 | **major** | past | subject |  |  | maths |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very great (a major fan).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:m5:1
# text = Very great (a major fan).
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a major accident on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x1:1
# text = There was a major accident on the motorway.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	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	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a major accident |  |  | the motorway; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on motorway=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading is a major part of our school day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x2:1
# text = Reading is a major part of our school day.
1	Reading	reading	NOUN	NN	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	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This song is in C major.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x3:1
# text = This song is in C major.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	C	C	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
6	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this song |  |  | C |  | major *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Major Smith led the soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x4:1
# text = Major Smith led the soldiers.
1	Major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Major Smith | the soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soldier=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin is majoring in biology at college (US).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x5:1
# text = My cousin is majoring in biology at college (US).
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	majoring	major	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	college	college	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **major** | present · progressive | My cousin |  |  | biology at college |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stay away from major roads when you ride your bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x6:1
# text = Stay away from major roads when you ride your bike.
1	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	ride	ride	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | major roads |  | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ride** | present | you | your bike |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm a major fan of that band (informal).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:major:x7:1
# text = I'm a major fan of that band (informal).
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	major	major	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | a major fan |  |  |  | of that band | 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 -->

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