---
title: posterior — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «posterior» in the school dictionary: Posterior means at the back or behind; it is the opposite of anterior (at the front). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# posterior

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Posterior, back, posterior legs, doctor, tail, He · **What happens:** mean, be, check, slip, land, get · **To what, where:** back, opposite, bottom, posterior part, posterior end, ice · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Posterior means at the back or behind; it is the opposite of anterior (at the front).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:m1:1
# text = Posterior means at the back or behind; it is the opposite of anterior (at the front).
1	Posterior	Posterior	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	anterior	anterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Posterior |  |  | the back |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | back | the opposite |  |  |  | of anterior | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Posterior can also mean later in time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:m2:1
# text = Posterior can also mean later in time.
1	Posterior	Posterior	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Posterior |  |  |  | time | late *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone's posterior is their bottom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:m3:1
# text = Someone's posterior is their bottom.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	posterior	posterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Someone's posterior | their bottom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The posterior legs of a frog are longer than the front legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x1:1
# text = The posterior legs of a frog are longer than the front legs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	posterior	posterior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
8	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the posterior legs of a frog |  |  |  |  | than the front legs; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor checked the posterior part of the knee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x2:1
# text = The doctor checked the posterior part of the knee.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	posterior	posterior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | the doctor | the posterior part of the knee |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fish's tail is at its posterior end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x3:1
# text = A fish's tail is at its posterior end.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	posterior	posterior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a fish's tail |  |  |  | at tail's posterior end |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(humorous) He slipped on the ice and landed on his posterior.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x4:1
# text = (humorous) He slipped on the ice and landed on his posterior.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	humorous	humorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	landed	land	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	posterior	posterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slip** | past | He |  |  | the ice |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **land** | past | He *not said here* |  |  | his posterior |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme on posterior=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(humorous) "Get your posterior off the sofa and help!" said Gran.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x5:1
# text = (humorous) "Get your posterior off the sofa and help!" said Gran.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	humorous	humorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	posterior	posterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
15	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | your posterior |  |  |  | off the sofa and help | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer posterior=Stimulus |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | Gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ear's posterior side is the side facing the back of your head.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x6:1
# text = The ear's posterior side is the side facing the back of your head.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	posterior	posterior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	facing	face	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the ear's posterior side | the side |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **face** | gerund | the side *not said here* | the back of your head |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme back=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science we label anterior (front) and posterior (back) on the diagram.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:posterior:x7:1
# text = In science we label anterior (front) and posterior (back) on the diagram.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	label	label	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	anterior	anterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	posterior	posterior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | present | we | anterior  front and posterior |  | science |  | on the diagram | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent anterior=Destination |

<!-- 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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