---
title: premature — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «premature» in the school dictionary: Happening or done too early, before the right time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# premature

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Happening, It, game, Premature babies, celebration, Smoking · **What happens:** happen, do, bear, spend, be, say · **To what, where:** cousin, hospital, other team, premature ageing, Phineus, gift · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«premature» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [premature in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/premature.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Happening or done too early, before the right time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:m1:1
# text = Happening or done too early, before the right time.
1	Happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	csubj:pass	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | participle | Happening |  |  |  | time | early *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a baby — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:m2:1
# text = Born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
1	Born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	37	37	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	pregnancy	pregnancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | participle |  |  |  |  | week | early *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin was born premature and spent weeks in hospital.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x1:1
# text = My cousin was born premature and spent weeks in hospital.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	spent	spend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
8	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | past · passive |  | My cousin |  |  |  | premature *property* | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **spend** | participle |  |  |  | hospital | week |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's premature to say who will win; the game isn't over.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x2:1
# text = It's premature to say who will win; the game isn't over.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	over	over	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | premature *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **win** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **is** | present | the game |  |  |  |  | over *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Premature babies are often very small.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x3:1
# text = Premature babies are often very small.
1	Premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Premature babies |  |  |  |  | often, small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The celebration was premature; the other team scored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x4:1
# text = The celebration was premature; the other team scored.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	celebration	celebration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	scored	score	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the celebration |  |  |  |  | premature *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **score** | participle |  | the other team *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smoking can cause premature ageing of the skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x5:1
# text = Smoking can cause premature ageing of the skin.
1	Smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ageing	ageing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Smoking | premature ageing of the skin |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition ageing=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist warned against premature conclusions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x6:1
# text = The scientist warned against premature conclusions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warned	warn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	conclusions	conclusion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | past | the scientist |  |  |  |  | against premature conclusions | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent against conclusion=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Phineus had been punished by the gods with premature old age and blindness for having abused the gift of prophecy.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:premature:x7:1
# text = Phineus had been punished by the gods with premature old age and blindness for having abused the gift of prophecy.
1	Phineus	Phineus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	punished	punish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	age	age	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	blindness	blindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	aux	_	_
16	abused	abuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	prophecy	prophecy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **punish** | past · perfect · passive | the gods with premature old age and blindness | Phineus |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **abuse** | gerund · perfect | the gods with premature old age and blindness *not said here* | the gift of prophecy |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gift=Theme |
| 3 | **gift** |  |  | prophecy |  |  |  |  | nom gift «possession transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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