---
title: quipu — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «quipu» in the school dictionary: A set of knotted coloured strings used by the Inca people of South America to record numbers and information, such as how many people, animals or goods there were. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# quipu

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** numbers, Incas, knot, higher, We, Experts · **What happens:** knot, use, record, be, count, stand · **To what, where:** knotted coloured strings, numbers, quipu, llamas, units, tens

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A set of knotted coloured strings used by the Inca people of South America to record numbers and information, such as how many people, animals or goods there were.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:m1:1
# text = A set of knotted coloured strings used by the Inca people of South America to record numbers and information, such as how many people, animals or goods there were.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	knotted	knot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
5	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Inca	Inca	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:agent	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	record	record	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
17	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	25	case	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	24	advmod	_	_
24	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	17	conj	_	_
30	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	31	expl	_	_
31	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | knotted coloured strings *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **record** | to-infinitive |  | numbers and information and many people and animals or goods |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Theme |
| 4 | **be** | past | numbers and information and many people and animals or goods *not said here* |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Incas used a quipu to count llamas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x1:1
# text = The Incas used a quipu to count llamas.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Incas	Inca	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	quipu	quipu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	llamas	llama	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the Incas | a quipu |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent quipu=Patient |
| 2 | **count** | to-infinitive | the Incas *not said here* | llamas |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent llama=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each knot on the quipu stood for a number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x2:1
# text = Each knot on the quipu stood for a number.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	knot	knot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	quipu	quipu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | each knot on the quipu |  |  |  |  | for a number | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for number=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A knot near the end of the string showed units; higher up meant tens and hundreds.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x3:1
# text = A knot near the end of the string showed units; higher up meant tens and hundreds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knot	knot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	units	unit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	nsubj	_	_
13	up	up	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	tens	ten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | a knot near the end of the string | units |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent unit=Recipient |
| 2 | **mean** | past | higher | tens and hundreds |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ten=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made our own quipu from coloured wool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x4:1
# text = We made our own quipu from coloured wool.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	quipu	quipu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	wool	wool	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 | **make** | past | We | our own quipu |  | coloured wool |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent quipu=Product from wool=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Experts are still trying to work out if quipus recorded words too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x5:1
# text = Experts are still trying to work out if quipus recorded words too.
1	Experts	expert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	quipus	quipu	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	recorded	record	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present · progressive | Experts |  |  |  | still |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **work out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Experts *not said here* | quipus and recorded words |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **record** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The quipu helped officials keep track of taxes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:quipu:x6:1
# text = The quipu helped officials keep track of taxes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	quipu	quipu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	officials	official	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	track	track	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the quipu |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | officials | track of taxes |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent track=Theme |

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**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.

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