---
title: primate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «primate» in the school dictionary: A primate is a mammal belonging to the group that includes humans, apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons), monkeys and lemurs; primates usually have hands that can grasp, forward-facing eyes and big brains. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency 
---

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# primate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** primate, mammal, group, primates, hands, senior bishop · **What happens:** be, belong, include, have, grasp, face · **To what, where:** mammal, humans, hands, eyes, senior bishop, Archbishop · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A primate is a mammal belonging to the group that includes humans, apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons), monkeys and lemurs; primates usually have hands that can grasp, forward-facing eyes and big brains.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:m1:1
# text = A primate is a mammal belonging to the group that includes humans, apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons), monkeys and lemurs; primates usually have hands that can grasp, forward-facing eyes and big brains.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	primate	primate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	apes	ape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	gorillas	gorilla	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	orangutans	orangutan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	gibbons	gibbon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
25	monkeys	monkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	lemurs	lemur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	_
29	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	nsubj	_	_
30	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	_
31	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
32	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	obj	_	_
33	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	35	nsubj	_	_
34	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	35	aux	_	_
35	grasp	grasp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	32	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	39	punct	_	_
37	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	39	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	facing	face	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	31	advcl	_	_
40	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	39	obj	_	_
41	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	43	cc	_	_
42	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	43	amod	_	_
43	brains	brain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	40	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a primate | a mammal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **belong** | gerund | a mammal *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the group | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **include** | present | the group | humans and apes and monkeys and lemurs |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent human=Theme |
| 4 | **have** | present | primates | hands |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 5 | **grasp** | can | hands |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 6 | **face** | gerund | primates *not said here* | eyes and big brains |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme eye=Destination |

<!-- .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: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A primate is the most senior bishop of a country or region; for example, the Archbishop of Canterbury is called the Primate of All England.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:m2:1
# text = A primate is the most senior bishop of a country or region; for example, the Archbishop of Canterbury is called the Primate of All England.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	primate	primate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	senior	senior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bishop	bishop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	region	region	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Archbishop	Archbishop	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Canterbury	Canterbury	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	Primate	primate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	xcomp	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	27	det	_	_
27	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a primate | the senior bishop |  |  |  | of a country or region | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive | the senior bishop *not said here* | the Archbishop of Canterbury |  |  |  | for example | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Theme for example=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Humans, monkeys and apes are all primates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x1:1
# text = Humans, monkeys and apes are all primates.
1	Humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	monkeys	monkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	apes	ape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Humans and monkeys and apes | all primates |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Primates have hands that can grip things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x2:1
# text = Primates have hands that can grip things.
1	Primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	grip	grip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Primates | hands |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **grip** | can | hands | things |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lemurs are primates that live only in Madagascar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x3:1
# text = Lemurs are primates that live only in Madagascar.
1	Lemurs	lemur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Madagascar	Madagascar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lemurs | primates |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | primates |  |  | Madagascar |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in madagascar=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many primates live in groups and look after their young for a long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x4:1
# text = Many primates live in groups and look after their young for a long time.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	young	young	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Many primates |  |  | groups |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in group=Location |
| 2 | **look** | present | Many primates *not said here* |  |  |  | after primates's young; time |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chimpanzees are the primates most closely related to humans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x5:1
# text = Chimpanzees are the primates most closely related to humans.
1	Chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study primates to learn how they use tools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x6:1
# text = Scientists study primates to learn how they use tools.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | primates |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent primate=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **use** | present | Scientists *= scientist* | tools |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tool=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(church) The Archbishop of Armagh is the Primate of All Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x7:1
# text = (church) The Archbishop of Armagh is the Primate of All Ireland.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Archbishop	Archbishop	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Armagh	Armagh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Primate	primate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | church | the Primate |  |  |  | of all Ireland | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gorillas are the largest primates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primate:x8:1
# text = Gorillas are the largest primates.
1	Gorillas	gorilla	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	primates	primate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gorillas | the largest primates |  |  |  |  | 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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