---
title: primer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «primer» in the school dictionary: A primer is a first, easy book for learning to read or to count, or a short book that teaches the basics of a subject. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# primer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** primer, first easy book, short book, first coat, small part, old arithmetic primer · **What happens:** be, learn, read, count, teach, help · **To what, where:** first easy book, basics, first coat, top paint stick, small part, firework

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A primer is a first, easy book for learning to read or to count, or a short book that teaches the basics of a subject.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:m1:1
# text = A primer is a first, easy book for learning to read or to count, or a short book that teaches the basics of a subject.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	_
21	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	basics	basic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a primer | a first easy book |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | gerund | a first easy book *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **read** | to-infinitive | a first easy book *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **count** | to-infinitive | a first easy book *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | a short book | the basics of a subject |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent basic=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
Primer is also a first coat of paint that helps the top paint stick.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:m2:1
# text = Primer is also a first coat of paint that helps the top paint stick.
1	Primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
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	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	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 | Primer | a first coat |  |  |  | of paint | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | a first coat | the top paint stick |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stick=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A primer is also a small part that sets off a firework or bullet.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:m3:1
# text = A primer is also a small part that sets off a firework or bullet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sets	set	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	firework	firework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	bullet	bullet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a primer | a small part |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **set off** | present | a small part | a firework or bullet |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition firework=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old arithmetic primer has 100 problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x1:1
# text = The old arithmetic primer has 100 problems.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	arithmetic	arithmetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the old arithmetic primer | 100 problems |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He bought a can of primer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x2:1
# text = He bought a can of primer.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | He | a primer |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent primer=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The primer costs 12 dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x3:1
# text = The primer costs 12 dollars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | the primer | 12 dollars |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme dollar=Value |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Children long ago learned to read from a primer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x4:1
# text = Children long ago learned to read from a primer.
1	Children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
3	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | Children |  |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **read** | to-infinitive | Children *not said here* |  |  | a primer |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from primer=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Paint the fence with primer before the red paint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x5:1
# text = Paint the fence with primer before the red paint.
1	Paint	paint	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | imperative | you *not said here* | the fence |  | the red paint |  | with primer | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent fence=Theme before paint=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This book is a primer on how volcanoes work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x6:1
# text = This book is a primer on how volcanoes work.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	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	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this book | a primer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | volcanoes |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let the primer dry before the next coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primer:x7:1
# text = Let the primer dry before the next coat.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	primer	primer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	dry	dry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | the primer dry |  |  | before the next coat |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dry=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 -->

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