---
title: precious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «precious» in the school dictionary: Precious means very valuable, worth a lot of money («precious stones», «precious metals»). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# precious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Precious, time, Precious little, Gold, Water, old photo · **What happens:** mean, love, not waste, lose, be, start · **To what, where:** precious memories, little, precious metals, desert, Grandma, precious stones

<!-- .vabout -->
«precious» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [precious in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/precious.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Precious means very valuable, worth a lot of money («precious stones», «precious metals»).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:m1:1
# text = Precious means very valuable, worth a lot of money («precious stones», «precious metals»).
1	Precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	valuable	valuable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	metals	metal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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 -->
Precious means very important and loved, not to be wasted or lost («precious memories», «time is precious»).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:m2:1
# text = Precious means very important and loved, not to be wasted or lost («precious memories», «time is precious»).
1	Precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	loved	love	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	wasted	waste	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	memories	memory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
23	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Precious |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **love** | participle | Precious *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **not** **waste** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP» |
| 4 | **lose** | participle |  | precious memories |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **is** *in a quote* | present | time |  |  |  |  | precious *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Informally, precious can mean too fussy or delicate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:m3:1
# text = Informally, precious can mean too fussy or delicate.
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	delicate	delicate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Precious little» means very little.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:m4:1
# text = «Precious little» means very little.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Precious little | little |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent little=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gold and silver are precious metals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x1:1
# text = Gold and silver are precious metals.
1	Gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	metals	metal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Gold and silver | precious metals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water is precious in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x2:1
# text = Water is precious in the desert.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Water |  |  | the desert |  | precious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This old photo is precious to Grandma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x3:1
# text = This old photo is precious to Grandma.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this old photo |  | Grandma |  |  | precious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Diamonds and rubies are precious stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x4:1
# text = Diamonds and rubies are precious stones.
1	Diamonds	diamond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	rubies	ruby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Diamonds and rubies | precious stones |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't waste precious time; start your homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x5:1
# text = Don't waste precious time; start your homework.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	waste	waste	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **waste** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **start** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby is very precious to her parents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x6:1
# text = The baby is very precious to her parents.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the baby |  |  |  |  | to her parents; precious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is precious little food left in the fridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x7:1
# text = There is precious little food left in the fridge.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fridge	fridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | precious little food |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | precious little food *not said here* |  |  |  | in the fridge *result* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in fridge=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon guarded its precious treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x8:1
# text = The dragon guarded its precious treasure.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guarded	guard	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	treasure	treasure	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 | **guard** | past | the dragon | dragon's precious treasure |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treasure=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **treasure** |  | dragon |  |  |  |  |  | nom treasure «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just see those precious stones lying there!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precious:x9:1
# text = Just see those precious stones lying there!
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	see	see	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
4	precious	precious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | imperative | you *not said here* | that precious stones |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer stone=Stimulus |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund | that precious stones *not said here* |  |  | there |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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