---
title: preference — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preference» in the school dictionary: A liking for one thing more than another. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# preference

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, I, survey, pupils, It, Aphrodite · **What happens:** like, choose, give, treat, have, list · **To what, where:** thing, preference, one person, films, order, preferences

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A liking for one thing more than another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:m1:1
# text = A liking for one thing more than another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	liking	liking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	amod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thing you like more or choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:m2:1
# text = The thing you like more or choose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | you | the thing |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |
| 2 | **choose** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Give preference to»: treat one person or group better or first.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:m3:1
# text = «Give preference to»: treat one person or group better or first.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	treat	treat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | preference |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent preference=Theme |
| 2 | **treat** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | one person or group |  |  | well *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent person=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have a preference for chocolate ice cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x1:1
# text = I have a preference for chocolate ice cream.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | a preference |  |  |  | for ice cream | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent preference=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
List the films in order of preference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x2:1
# text = List the films in order of preference.
1	List	list	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **list** | imperative | you *not said here* | the films |  | order of preference |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **order** |  |  | preference |  |  |  |  | nom order «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The survey showed pupils' preferences for sports.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x3:1
# text = The survey showed pupils' preferences for sports.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	survey	survey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	preferences	preference	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the survey | pupils's preferences |  |  |  | for sports | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent preference=Recipient |
| 2 | **prefer** |  | pupils |  |  |  |  |  | nom preference «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a matter of personal preference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x4:1
# text = It's a matter of personal preference.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	personal	personal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a matter |  |  |  | of personal preference | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Older people are given preference for seats on the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x5:1
# text = Older people are given preference for seats on the bus.
1	Older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | Older people |  |  |  | for seats on the bus | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: subject=Recipient preference=Theme for seat=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do you have a preference, tea or juice?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x6:1
# text = Do you have a preference, tea or juice?
1	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present · do-support | you | a preference and tea or juice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent preference=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aphrodite greatly preferred Ares to her husband, and this preference naturally gave rise to much jealousy on the part of Hephaestus, and caused them great unhappiness.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preference:x7:1
# text = Aphrodite greatly preferred Ares to her husband, and this preference naturally gave rise to much jealousy on the part of Hephaestus, and caused them great unhappiness.
1	Aphrodite	aphrodite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	greatly	greatly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Ares	ar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	husband	husband	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	preference	preference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	naturally	naturally	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	rise	rise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	jealousy	jealousy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	Hephaestus	Hephaestus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
26	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	obj	_	_
27	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	unhappiness	unhappiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | past | Aphrodite | Ares |  |  |  | to Aphrodite's husband; greatly *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ar=Stimulus |
| 2 | **give** | past | this preference | rise | much jealousy | the part of Hephaestus |  | naturally *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent rise=Theme to jealousy=Recipient on part=Asset |
| 3 | **cause** | past | Aphrodite *not said here* | Ares *= ar* |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Causer they=Theme unhappiness=Eventuality |

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**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.

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