---
title: primary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «primary» in the school dictionary: Primary means first in importance; main. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# primary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Primary, primary school, children, primary colours, little brother, you · **What happens:** mean, be, go, mix, make, start · **To what, where:** first school, colours, many others, primary school, Red primary colours, painting

<!-- .vabout -->
«primary» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [primary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/primary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Primary means first in importance; main.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:m1:1
# text = Primary means first in importance; main.
1	Primary	Primary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	importance	importance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Primary |  |  |  |  | in importance; first *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in importance=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
Primary means first in order or time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:m2:1
# text = Primary means first in order or time.
1	Primary	Primary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Primary |  |  |  |  | in order or time; first *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in order=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A primary school is the first school children go to, for about ages five to eleven.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:m3:1
# text = A primary school is the first school children go to, for about ages five to eleven.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	about	about	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	parataxis	_	_
15	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	flat	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	eleven	eleven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a primary school | the first school |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | children | the first school *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location school=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The primary colours are the colours that can be mixed to make many others.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:m4:1
# text = The primary colours are the colours that can be mixed to make many others.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the primary colours | the colours |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mix** | can · passive |  | the colours |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | many others |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset other=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother started primary school this term.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x1:1
# text = My little brother started primary school this term.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | My little brother | primary school |  |  |  | this term *obl:unmarked* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Red, yellow and blue are the primary colours in painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x2:1
# text = Red, yellow and blue are the primary colours in painting.
1	Red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mix two primary colours to make a secondary colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x3:1
# text = Mix two primary colours to make a secondary colour.
1	Mix	mix	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
3	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	secondary	secondary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix** | imperative | you *not said here* | two primary colours |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colour=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a secondary colour |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset colour=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our primary aim is to keep everyone safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x4:1
# text = Our primary aim is to keep everyone safe.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	aim	aim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	obj	_	_
8	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our primary aim |  |  |  |  | keep, safe *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **aim** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom aim «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A diary from the war is a primary source.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x5:1
# text = A diary from the war is a primary source.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	diary	diary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	source	source	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a diary from the war | a primary source |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grass is a primary food for cows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primary:x6:1
# text = Grass is a primary food for cows.
1	Grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Grass | a primary food |  |  |  | for cows | 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 -->

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