---
title: nous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nous» in the school dictionary: Nous means common sense and practical cleverness: knowing what to do in real life. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nous, word, you, coat, She, footballer · **What happens:** mean, know, do, be, sound, not be · **To what, where:** common sense, real life, mind, French word, English word, bit · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nous means common sense and practical cleverness: knowing what to do in real life.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:m1:1
# text = Nous means common sense and practical cleverness: knowing what to do in real life.
1	Nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	practical	practical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cleverness	cleverness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Nous | common sense and practical cleverness |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sense=Topic |
| 2 | **know** | gerund | Nous *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | Nous *not said here* |  |  | real life |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old Greek thinking, nous meant the mind or reason.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:m2:1
# text = In old Greek thinking, nous meant the mind or reason.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | nous | the mind or reason |  |  |  | in old Greek thinking | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot mind=Theme in thinking=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Nous» is the French word for «we» or «us»; it sounds like «noo» and is not an English word.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:m3:1
# text = «Nous» is the French word for «we» or «us»; it sounds like «noo» and is not an English word.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nous	Nous	PROPN	NNP	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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	noo	noo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	cop	_	_
25	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	28	advmod	_	_
26	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nous | the French word |  |  |  | for we | tree rules |
| 2 | **sound** | present | word |  |  |  |  | like noo | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | present | word *not said here* | a English word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a bit of nous and take a coat — it's freezing!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x1:1
# text = Use a bit of nous and take a coat — it's freezing!
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	freezing	freezing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a bit of nous |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bit=Patient |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive | you *not said here* | a coat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present | coat | freezing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had the nous to write the number plate down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x2:1
# text = She had the nous to write the number plate down.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	down	down	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | the nous |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nous=Patient |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the number plate |  |  |  | down *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plate=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That footballer has real football nous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x3:1
# text = That footballer has real football nous.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	nous	nous	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 | **have** | present | that footballer | real football nous |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nous=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little lad showed great nous by finding his way home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x4:1
# text = The little lad showed great nous by finding his way home.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	finding	find	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	home	home	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the little lad | great nous |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent nous=Recipient |
| 2 | **find** | gerund | the little lad *not said here* | lad's way |  |  |  | home *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French, «nous sommes amis» means «we are friends».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x5:1
# text = In French, «nous sommes amis» means «we are friends».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sommes	somme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	compound	_	_
7	amis	ami	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | sommes amis |  |  |  |  | in French | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in french=Attribute |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | we | friends |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Nous» in French sounds like «noo», with a silent s.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x6:1
# text = «Nous» in French sounds like «noo», with a silent s.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nous	Nous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	noo	noo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	silent	silent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	s.	S.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | Nous in French |  |  |  |  | like noo; with a silent s. | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with s.=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Greek thinkers said nous was the part of us that understands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x7:1
# text = Ancient Greek thinkers said nous was the part of us that understands.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thinkers	thinker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	nous	nous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	understands	understand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Ancient Greek thinkers |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | nous | the part |  |  |  | of us | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** | present | the part |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nous n’irons plus au bois, Les lauriers sont coupés,

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nous:x8:1
# text = Nous n’irons plus au bois, Les lauriers sont coupés,
1	Nous	Nous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	n’irons	n'iron	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
3	plus	plus	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	au	au	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bois	bois	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	Les	les	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lauriers	laurier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
9	sont	sont	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	10	compound	_	_
10	coupés	coupé	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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