---
title: selective — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «selective» in the school dictionary: Selective means choosing carefully, only taking some things and not others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# selective

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Selective, selective school, pupils, selective weedkiller, Selective hearing, you · **What happens:** mean, choose, take, pass, meet, affect · **To what, where:** things, pupils, test, certain standards, weeds, hearing

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Selective means choosing carefully, only taking some things and not others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:m1:1
# text = Selective means choosing carefully, only taking some things and not others.
1	Selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Selective |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **choose** *not said to happen* | gerund | Selective *not said here* |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **take** | gerund | Selective *not said here* | some things and others |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A selective school only takes pupils who pass a test or meet certain standards.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:m2:1
# text = A selective school only takes pupils who pass a test or meet certain standards.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	pass	pass	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	meet	meet	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
13	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	standards	standard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | a selective school |  | pupils |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument pupil=Destination |
| 2 | **pass** | present | pupils | a test |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme test=Trajectory |
| 3 | **meet** | present | pupils *not said here* | certain standards |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent standard=Co-Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Selective can mean affecting only some things: a selective weedkiller kills weeds but not grass.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:m3:1
# text = Selective can mean affecting only some things: a selective weedkiller kills weeds but not grass.
1	Selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	affecting	affect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	weedkiller	weedkiller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	kills	kill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
13	weeds	weed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Selective |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **affect** *not said to happen* | gerund | Selective *not said here* | some things |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus thing=Experiencer |
| 3 | **kill** | present | a selective weedkiller | weeds |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weed=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Selective hearing» or «a selective memory» jokingly means only hearing or remembering what you want to.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:m4:1
# text = «Selective hearing» or «a selective memory» jokingly means only hearing or remembering what you want to.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hearing	hearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
11	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	only	only	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	hearing	hearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	remembering	remember	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	conj	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	obj	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl:relcl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Selective hearing or a selective memory | hearing |  |  |  | jokingly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hearing=Topic |
| 2 | **remember** | gerund | Selective hearing or a selective memory *not said here* | hearing |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Farmers used selective breeding to make cows give more milk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x1:1
# text = Farmers used selective breeding to make cows give more milk.
1	Farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	breeding	breeding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Farmers | selective breeding |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breeding=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | Farmers *not said here* | cows |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive | cows *not said here* | more milk |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent milk=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is very selective about which books she reads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x2:1
# text = She is very selective about which books she reads.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	7	det	_	_
7	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | about which books; selective *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **read** | present | she | which books *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother has selective hearing when it is time to tidy up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x3:1
# text = My brother has selective hearing when it is time to tidy up.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hearing	hearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My brother | selective hearing |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hearing=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | hearing | time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tidy up** | to-infinitive | My brother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a selective school, so you have to sit an exam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x4:1
# text = It is a selective school, so you have to sit an exam.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	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	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a selective school |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sit** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a exam |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location exam=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gardener used a selective weedkiller on the lawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x5:1
# text = The gardener used a selective weedkiller on the lawn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gardener	gardener	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	weedkiller	weedkiller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lawn	lawn	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 | **use** | past | the gardener | a selective weedkiller |  | the lawn |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weedkiller=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be selective with your photos and only share the best ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x6:1
# text = Be selective with your photos and only share the best ones.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your photos; selective *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the best ones |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cats can be selective eaters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selective:x7:1
# text = Cats can be selective eaters.
1	Cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	selective	selective	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	eaters	eater	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** | can | Cats | selective eaters |  |  |  |  | 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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