---
title: previous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «previous» in the school dictionary: Happening or existing before the one you are talking about now: the previous page, the previous day. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# previous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Previous, bit, previous owner, number, She · **What happens:** happen, exist, talk, mean, be, act · **To what, where:** cat, house, 10, pattern, previous experience, club

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Happening or existing before the one you are talking about now: the previous page, the previous day.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:m1:1
# text = Happening or existing before the one you are talking about now: the previous page, the previous day.
1	Happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	existing	exist	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	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 | **exist** | gerund |  |  |  |  | before the one |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before one=Location |
| 3 | **talk** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about now=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
«Previous to» (formal) means before.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:m2:1
# text = «Previous to» (formal) means before.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	before	before	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too quick or eager: «You're a bit previous!» — acting before it is time.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:m3:1
# text = Too quick or eager: «You're a bit previous!» — acting before it is time.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	eager	eager	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
14	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
15	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
16	before	before	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | You |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; previous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | bit |  |  |  | before time |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look back at the previous page.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x1:1
# text = Look back at the previous page.
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look back** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the previous page | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at page=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The previous owner left a cat in the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x2:1
# text = The previous owner left a cat in the house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	owner	owner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the previous owner | a cat |  | the house |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent cat=Theme in house=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the pattern 5, 10, 15, the number previous to 15 is 10.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x3:1
# text = In the pattern 5, 10, 15, the number previous to 15 is 10.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
12	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	obl	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the number | 10 |  | the pattern |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had been to the beach the previous day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x4:1
# text = She had been to the beach the previous day.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past · perfect | She |  |  |  | day | to the beach | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No previous experience is needed to join the club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x5:1
# text = No previous experience is needed to join the club.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
2	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive |  | no previous experience |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | no previous experience *not said here* | the club |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent club=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use your answer from the previous question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x6:1
# text = Use your answer from the previous question.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	question	question	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 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | your answer |  | the previous question |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Patient |
| 2 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our previous teacher moved to Canada.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x7:1
# text = Our previous teacher moved to Canada.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | Our previous teacher |  | Canada |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to canada=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This score is better than your previous one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x8:1
# text = This score is better than your previous one.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this score |  |  |  |  | than your previous one; good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The remainder of the day went like the previous one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:previous:x9:1
# text = The remainder of the day went like the previous one.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	remainder	remainder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	previous	previous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the remainder of the day |  |  |  |  | like the previous one | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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