---
title: minority — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «minority» in the school dictionary: A minority is the smaller number or part of a group, less than half. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# minority

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** minority, people, person, Welsh, law, party · **What happens:** be, want, stay, like, protect, behave · **To what, where:** smaller number, group, race, child, law, broccoli

<!-- .vabout -->
«minority» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [minority in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/minority.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A minority is the smaller number or part of a group, less than half.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:m1:1
# text = A minority is the smaller number or part of a group, less than half.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	15	advmod	_	_
14	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a minority | the smaller number or part of a group |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
A minority (group) is a group of people who are different in race, religion, language or culture from most people in a country.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:m2:1
# text = A minority (group) is a group of people who are different in race, religion, language or culture from most people in a country.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	culture	culture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	24	amod	_	_
24	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a minority | a group |  |  |  | of people | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | people |  |  | race and religion and language or culture from most people in a country |  | different *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time when a person is still a child in law (under eighteen in most places).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:m3:1
# text = The time when a person is still a child in law (under eighteen in most places).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	still	still	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	under	under	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	eighteen	eighteen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	17	amod	_	_
17	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only a minority of the class wanted to stay inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x1:1
# text = Only a minority of the class wanted to stay inside.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | a minority of the class |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a minority of the class *not said here* |  |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People who like broccoli are in the minority here.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x2:1
# text = People who like broccoli are in the minority here.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	broccoli	broccoli	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | People | broccoli |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot broccoli=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | People |  |  | the minority; here |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Welsh is a minority language in the UK.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x3:1
# text = Welsh is a minority language in the UK.
1	Welsh	welsh	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	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	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 | Welsh | a minority language |  | the UK |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The law protects religious minorities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x4:1
# text = The law protects religious minorities.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	minorities	minority	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 | **protect** | present | the law | religious minorities |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent minority=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small minority of fans behaved badly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x5:1
# text = A small minority of fans behaved badly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | participle |  | fans *not said here* |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If 12 out of 30 children chose red, red was the choice of a minority.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x6:1
# text = If 12 out of 30 children chose red, red was the choice of a minority.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	advcl	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
7	chose	choose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | past |  |  |  |  |  | out 30 children | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past |  | the red choice |  |  |  | of a minority | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The party formed a minority government.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:minority:x7:1
# text = The party formed a minority government.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	formed	form	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	minority	minority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | past | the party | a minority government |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location government=Theme |

<!-- 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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