---
title: primitive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «primitive» in the school dictionary: Very simple and basic, not advanced: «a primitive tool made of stone». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# primitive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** primitive life, painter, Early humans, Bacteria, hut, first robot · **What happens:** make, belong, form, be, look, use · **To what, where:** primitive tool, peoples, this, primitive tools, flint, jaws · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«primitive» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [primitive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/primitive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very simple and basic, not advanced: «a primitive tool made of stone».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:m1:1
# text = Very simple and basic, not advanced: «a primitive tool made of stone».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	advanced	advanced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | participle |  | a primitive tool *not said here* |  |  |  | of stone | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Belonging to an early stage of development, long ago: «primitive life forms».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:m2:1
# text = Belonging to an early stage of development, long ago: «primitive life forms».
1	Belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	development	development	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
10	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **belong** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to a early stage of development; ago *property* | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **form** *in a quote* | present | primitive life |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A painter or style that is simple and untrained-looking on purpose or by nature.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:m3:1
# text = A painter or style that is simple and untrained-looking on purpose or by nature.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	painter	painter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	untrained	untrained	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a painter or style |  |  |  |  | simple *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | a painter or style *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on purpose or nature | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on purpose=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old, now hurtful — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Once used about peoples or cultures thought to be «less advanced»; today this is seen as unfair and rude.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:m4:1
# text = Once used about peoples or cultures thought to be «less advanced»; today this is seen as unfair and rude.
1	Once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cultures	culture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	advanced	advanced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl:unmarked	_	_
16	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past |  |  |  |  |  | about peoples or cultures; once *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | participle |  | peoples or cultures *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | advanced *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **see** | present · passive |  | this |  |  | today | as unfair | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus as unfair=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Early humans made primitive tools from flint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x1:1
# text = Early humans made primitive tools from flint.
1	Early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Early humans | primitive tools |  | flint |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent tool=Product from flint=Material |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bacteria are among the most primitive living things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x2:1
# text = Bacteria are among the most primitive living things.
1	Bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
3	among	among	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	things	thing	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 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Bacteria |  |  |  |  | among the primitive living things | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hut was primitive, with no water or electricity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x3:1
# text = The hut was primitive, with no water or electricity.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hut	hut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the hut |  |  |  |  | with no water or electricity; primitive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His first robot was primitive but it could move forward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x4:1
# text = His first robot was primitive but it could move forward.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His first robot |  |  |  |  | primitive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move forward** | could | robot |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Primitive fish had no jaws.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x5:1
# text = Primitive fish had no jaws.
1	Primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	jaws	jaw	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 | **have** | past | Primitive fish | no jaws |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jaw=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We camped in primitive conditions on the island.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x6:1
# text = We camped in primitive conditions on the island.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	camped	camp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **camp** | past | We |  |  | primitive conditions |  | on the island | vn odge-46-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in condition=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling another people «primitive» is unfair; their ways are just different.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x7:1
# text = Calling another people «primitive» is unfair; their ways are just different.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	just	just	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | another people |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | people's ways |  |  |  |  | different *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were at last blown on shore, for navigation was primitive in those days.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:primitive:x8:1
# text = They were at last blown on shore, for navigation was primitive in those days.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	blown	blow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	navigation	navigation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	primitive	primitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
15	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | They |  |  |  |  | last *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **blow** | participle |  |  |  | shore |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | navigation |  |  |  | day | primitive *property* | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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