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

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# preferred

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, Most pupils, She, 30 pupils, 12, you · **What happens:** prefer, mean, like, choose, want, not require · **To what, where:** liked one thing, one, job advert, book, pizza, bus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Preferred means liked one thing more than another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:m1:1
# text = Preferred means liked one thing more than another.
1	Preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	liked	like	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | liked one thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **like** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- .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 -->
As an adjective, preferred means the one that is chosen or liked best.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:m2:1
# text = As an adjective, preferred means the one that is chosen or liked best.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	csubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	liked	like	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
14	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a adjective | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | the one |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |
| 3 | **choose** | present · passive |  | the one |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 4 | **like** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a job advert, «preferred» means wanted but not required.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:m3:1
# text = In a job advert, «preferred» means wanted but not required.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	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	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	required	require	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | a job advert |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **want** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **not** **require** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I preferred the book to the film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x1:1
# text = I preferred the book to the film.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | past | I | the book |  |  |  | to the film | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer book=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most pupils preferred pizza to pasta.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x2:1
# text = Most pupils preferred pizza to pasta.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	pizza	pizza	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pasta	pasta	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | participle | Most pupils | pizza |  |  |  | to pasta | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pizza=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She preferred to walk rather than take the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x3:1
# text = She preferred to walk rather than take the bus.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	7	cc	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **walk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | infinitive | She *not said here* | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the survey, 18 of 30 pupils preferred apples, so 12 preferred something else.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x4:1
# text = In the survey, 18 of 30 pupils preferred apples, so 12 preferred something else.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	survey	survey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	appos	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nsubj	_	_
14	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	else	else	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | participle | 30 pupils *not said here* | apples |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer apple=Stimulus |
| 2 | **prefer** | past | 12 | something |  | the survey |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write your preferred name on the form.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x5:1
# text = Write your preferred name on the form.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	preferred	preferred	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | your preferred name |  | the form |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent name=Theme on form=Destination |
| 2 | **name** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cats are preferred as pets in our street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x6:1
# text = Cats are preferred as pets in our street.
1	Cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	pets	pet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present · passive |  | Cats |  | our street |  | as pets | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Experience in sport is preferred but not required. (formal)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Experience in sport is preferred but not required.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x7:1
# text = Experience in sport is preferred but not required.
1	Experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	preferred	preferred	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	required	require	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Experience in sport |  |  |  |  | preferred *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **require** | participle | Experience in sport *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (formal)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x7:2
# text = (formal)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preferred:x8:1
# text = We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	both	both	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | past | We | the same Fairy |  |  |  | both *property* | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fairy=Stimulus |
| 2 | **prefer** | past | Fairy | me |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer i=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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