---
title: nee — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nee» in the school dictionary: Née (often written nee) is used before a woman's family name from birth, to show what her surname was before she married: «Mrs Jane Smith, née Brown». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nee

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** surname, woman, It, née, Mary, notice · **What happens:** write, use, show, be, name, come · **To what, where:** Née, Mrs, birth, French, great grandmother, Ann Kelly · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nee» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [nee in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nee.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Née (often written nee) is used before a woman's family name from birth, to show what her surname was before she married: «Mrs Jane Smith, née Brown».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:m1:1
# text = Née (often written nee) is used before a woman's family name from birth, to show what her surname was before she married: «Mrs Jane Smith, née Brown».
1	Née	Née	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	nee	nee	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
20	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	19	obj	_	_
21	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	surname	surname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
23	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	26	cop	_	_
24	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
25	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	married	marry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	29	punct	_	_
28	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
30	Jane	Jane	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	flat	_	_
31	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	34	punct	_	_
33	née	née	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	nmod:desc	_	_
34	Brown	Brown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | present · passive |  | Née |  |  | before a woman's family name from birth |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | Mrs and Brown  née |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |
| 4 | **is** | past | surname |  |  |  |  | marry *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **name** |  | a woman |  |  | birth |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent from=place |

<!-- .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 -->
It comes from French, where «née» means «born».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:m2:1
# text = It comes from French, where «née» means «born».
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	née	née	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | It |  |  | French |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from french=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present | née |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **bear** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mary Wilson, née Taylor, was my great-grandmother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:x1:1
# text = Mary Wilson, née Taylor, was my great-grandmother.
1	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
2	Wilson	Wilson	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	née	née	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
5	Taylor	Taylor	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Mary | my great grandmother |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The notice read «Ann Kelly (nee O'Brien)».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:x2:1
# text = The notice read «Ann Kelly (nee O'Brien)».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	notice	notice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Ann	Ann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Kelly	Kelly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	nee	nee	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	O'Brien	O'Brien	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the notice | Ann Kelly |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kelly=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our family tree, Nan is listed as Mrs Jones, née Evans.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:x3:1
# text = In our family tree, Nan is listed as Mrs Jones, née Evans.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	Nan	Nan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	listed	list	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	née	née	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Evans	Evan	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **list** | present · passive |  | Nan |  | our family tree |  | as Mrs and née Evans | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Née shows the surname someone had when she was born.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:x4:1
# text = Née shows the surname someone had when she was born.
1	Née	Née	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	surname	surname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Née | the surname |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent surname=Recipient |
| 2 | **have** | past | someone | the surname *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bear** | past · passive |  | Née |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The queen's mother was born with another surname, so books write «née» before it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nee:x5:1
# text = The queen's mother was born with another surname, so books write «née» before it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	surname	surname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	née	née	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
17	before	before	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | past · passive |  | the queen's mother |  |  |  | with another surname | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **write** | present | books | née |  |  | before née |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent née=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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