---
title: numeral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «numeral» in the school dictionary: A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that stands for a number, like 7 or VII. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# numeral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** numeral, symbols, you, clock face, XIV, numerals · **What happens:** be, stand, write, have, come, use · **To what, where:** symbol, word, number, numerals, Roman numerals, Roman numeral

<!-- .vabout -->
«numeral» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [numeral in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/numeral.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that stands for a number, like 7 or VII.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:m1:1
# text = A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that stands for a number, like 7 or VII.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	symbols	symbol	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	appos	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	VII	vii	NUM	CD	NumForm=Roman|NumType=Card	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a numeral | a symbol or group of symbols |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stand** | present | symbols |  |  |  |  | for a number | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for number=Attribute |

<!-- .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: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A numeral is a word for a number, like «seven» or «seventh».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:m2:1
# text = A numeral is a word for a number, like «seven» or «seventh».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	seventh	seventh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a numeral | a word |  |  |  | for a number | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write the number in numerals, not words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x1:1
# text = Write the number in numerals, not words.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	numerals	numeral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | the number |  | numerals and words |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent number=Theme in numeral=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clock face has Roman numerals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x2:1
# text = The clock face has Roman numerals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	numerals	numeral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the clock face | Roman numerals |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent numeral=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
XIV is the Roman numeral for fourteen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x3:1
# text = XIV is the Roman numeral for fourteen.
1	XIV	xiv	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fourteen	fourteen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | XIV | the Roman numeral |  |  |  | for fourteen | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our numerals 0 to 9 came to Europe from India through Arab mathematicians.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x4:1
# text = Our numerals 0 to 9 came to Europe from India through Arab mathematicians.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	numerals	numeral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	flat	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	India	India	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	through	through	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	Arab	Arab	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	mathematicians	mathematician	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Our numerals |  | Europe | India |  | through Arab mathematicians | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme to europe=Initial\_Location from india=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Romans had no numeral for zero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x5:1
# text = The Romans had no numeral for zero.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Romans | no numeral |  |  |  | for zero | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent numeral=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Henry VIII uses the Roman numeral for eight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x6:1
# text = Henry VIII uses the Roman numeral for eight.
1	Henry	Henry	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	VIII	VIII	NUM	CD	NumForm=Roman|NumType=Card	1	flat	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Henry | the Roman numeral |  |  |  | for eight | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent numeral=Theme for eight=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«12» is a numeral, «twelve» is a word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x7:1
# text = «12» is a numeral, «twelve» is a word.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	numeral	numeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 12 | a numeral |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a numeral | a word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have changed the Indian mercantile numerals into those of English "back-slang," which make a very good parallel.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:numeral:x8:1
# text = I have changed the Indian mercantile numerals into those of English "back-slang," which make a very good parallel.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	Indian	Indian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	mercantile	mercantile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	numerals	numeral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
9	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	15	nsubj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	_
18	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
19	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
21	very	very	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	parallel	parallel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present · perfect | I | the Indian mercantile numerals |  |  |  | into slang *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V NP.patient PP.result»: agent=Agent numeral=Patient into slang=Result |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | a good parallel |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset parallel=Product |

<!-- 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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