---
title: preliminary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preliminary» in the school dictionary: Preliminary means coming before the main part and getting ready for it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# preliminary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Preliminary, Preliminaries, We, team, preliminary results, meeting · **What happens:** mean, come, get, be, do, win · **To what, where:** main part, first step, things, preliminary test, preliminary, you · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«preliminary» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [preliminary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preliminary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Preliminary means coming before the main part and getting ready for it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:m1:1
# text = Preliminary means coming before the main part and getting ready for it.
1	Preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
10	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Preliminary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** *not said to happen* | gerund | Preliminary *not said here* |  |  | the main part |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before part=Location |
| 3 | **get** | gerund | Preliminary *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
A preliminary is a first step or early round, such as a heat in a competition.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:m2:1
# text = A preliminary is a first step or early round, such as a heat in a competition.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	competition	competition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a preliminary | a first step |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a preliminary *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Preliminaries are things done before the main business, such as greetings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:m3:1
# text = Preliminaries are things done before the main business, such as greetings.
1	Preliminaries	preliminary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	greetings	greeting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Preliminaries | things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  | things *not said here* |  |  | before the main business and greetings |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We did a preliminary test before the real experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x1:1
# text = We did a preliminary test before the real experiment.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | We | a preliminary test |  |  | before the real experiment |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team won the preliminary round.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x2:1
# text = Our team won the preliminary round.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	round	round	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | Our team | the preliminary |  |  |  | round *property* | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent preliminary=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The preliminary results look good.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x3:1
# text = The preliminary results look good.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the preliminary results |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the preliminaries, the meeting began.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x4:1
# text = After the preliminaries, the meeting began.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	preliminaries	preliminary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the meeting |  |  |  | after the preliminaries |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A preliminary drawing helps you plan a picture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x5:1
# text = A preliminary drawing helps you plan a picture.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	plan	plan	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | a preliminary drawing | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **plan** | infinitive | you *not said here* | a picture |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Preliminary findings indicate an increase in rainfall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x6:1
# text = (formal) Preliminary findings indicate an increase in rainfall.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Preliminary	preliminary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	findings	finding	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	indicate	indicate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	increase	increase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	rainfall	rainfall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **indicate** | present | formal Preliminary findings | a increase |  | rainfall |  |  | vn indicate-78-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot increase=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He skipped the preliminaries and got straight to the point.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x7:1
# text = He skipped the preliminaries and got straight to the point.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	skipped	skip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	preliminaries	preliminary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **skip** | past | He | the preliminaries |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent preliminary=Agent |
| 2 | **get** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the point *result* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to point=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The preliminary heats are in the morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x8:1
# text = The preliminary heats are in the morning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	heats	heat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **heat** | present | the preliminary |  |  |  | morning |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | present | the preliminary *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some stories start off without any preliminary formula, or with a simple "Well, there was once a ----".

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preliminary:x9:1
# text = Some stories start off without any preliminary formula, or with a simple "Well, there was once a ----".
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
7	preliminary	preliminary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	formula	formula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Well	well	INTJ	UH	_	18	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
17	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	18	expl	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
19	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	21	advmod	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	----	----	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start off** | present | some stories |  |  |  |  | without any preliminary formula | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | past |  | a simple ---- |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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