---
title: principal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «principal» in the school dictionary: The head teacher of a school, especially in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# principal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** principal, money, you, pupil, Rice, principal reason · **What happens:** mean, be, borrow, save, add, speak · **To what, where:** amount, interest, assembly, name, principal food, many Asian countries · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher of a school, especially in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:m1:1
# text = The head teacher of a school, especially in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	flat	_	_
18	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As an adjective, principal means most important or main.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:m2:1
# text = As an adjective, principal means most important or main.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	principal	principal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | principal |  |  |  |  | as a adjective | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as adjective=Attribute |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the principal city".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:m2e:1
# text = "the principal city".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In money, the principal is the amount you first borrow or save, before interest is added.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:m3:1
# text = In money, the principal is the amount you first borrow or save, before interest is added.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	principal	principal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	advmod	_	_
11	borrow	borrow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	interest	interest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	added	add	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | money | the amount |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **borrow** | present | you |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **save** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **add** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | interest |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The principal spoke to the whole school at assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x1:1
# text = The principal spoke to the whole school at assembly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the principal |  |  | assembly |  | to the whole school | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to school=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our principal knows every pupil's name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x2:1
# text = Our principal knows every pupil's name.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | Our principal | every pupil's name |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer name=Stimulus |
| 2 | **name** |  | every pupil |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rice is the principal food in many Asian countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x3:1
# text = Rice is the principal food in many Asian countries.
1	Rice	rice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	Asian	Asian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Rice | the principal food |  | many Asian countries |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The principal reason we were late was the traffic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x4:1
# text = The principal reason we were late was the traffic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	traffic	traffic	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** | past | the principal reason | the traffic |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sydney is a principal city of Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x5:1
# text = Sydney is a principal city of Australia.
1	Sydney	Sydney	PROPN	NNP	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	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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 | Sydney | a principal city |  |  |  | of Australia | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bank adds interest to the principal every year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x6:1
# text = The bank adds interest to the principal every year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	adds	add	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	interest	interest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	principal	principal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | present | the bank | interest |  |  | year | to the principal | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent interest=Patient to principal=Co-Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She became the principal of a small primary school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x7:1
# text = She became the principal of a small primary school.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	principal	principal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	primary	primary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | She | the principal of a small primary school |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The principal person in the procession was a priest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:principal:x8:1
# text = The principal person in the procession was a priest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	procession	procession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	priest	priest	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** | past | the principal person in the procession | a priest |  |  |  |  | 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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