---
title: short — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «short» in the school dictionary: Short means not long: a short pencil, a short story. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# short

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Short, Shorts, Tom, ribbon, short break, days · **What happens:** mean, last, not have, form, be, run · **To what, where:** short break, enough, shorter form, name, short trousers, tape · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«short» in the school dictionary: its 6 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [short in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/short.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Short means not long: a short pencil, a short story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m1:1
# text = Short means not long: a short pencil, a short story.
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Short |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Short means not tall: a short person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m2:1
# text = Short means not tall: a short person.
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Short |  |  |  |  | tall *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Short means lasting a little time: a short break.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m3:1
# text = Short means lasting a little time: a short break.
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lasting	last	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Short |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **last** *not said to happen* | gerund | Short *not said here* | a short break |  |  | time |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Short of something means not having enough of it: $4 short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m4:1
# text = Short of something means not having enough of it: $4 short.
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	ccomp	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	$	$	SYM	$	_	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
13	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **have** | gerund |  | enough of it |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=Patient |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Short for» means a shorter form of a name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m5:1
# text = «Short for» means a shorter form of a name.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Short | a shorter form of a name |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent form=Topic |
| 2 | **form** |  |  | a name |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom is short for Thomas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m5e:1
# text = Tom is short for Thomas.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Thomas	Thomas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tom |  |  |  |  | for Thomas; short *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 6 {#m6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shorts are short trousers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:m6:1
# text = Shorts are short trousers.
1	Shorts	short	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	trousers	trousers	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shorts | short trousers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x1:1
# text = Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Ann	Ann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tom |  |  |  |  | than Ann; 5 cm *obl:unmarked*; short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is $4 short of the price.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x2:1
# text = She is $4 short of the price.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	$	$	SYM	$	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which ribbon is the shortest?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x3:1
# text = Which ribbon is the shortest?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	ribbon	ribbon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shortest	short	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | which ribbon |  |  |  |  | short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short break lasts 10 minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x4:1
# text = A short break lasts 10 minutes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lasts	last	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | present | a short break |  |  |  | minute |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The days are short in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x5:1
# text = The days are short in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the days |  |  |  | winter | short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liz is short for Elizabeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x6:1
# text = Liz is short for Elizabeth.
1	Liz	Liz	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Elizabeth	Elizabeth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Liz |  |  |  |  | for Elizabeth; short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We ran short of glue, so we used tape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x7:1
# text = We ran short of glue, so we used tape.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | We |  |  |  |  | short *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | past | we | tape |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tape=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wears shorts in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x8:1
# text = He wears shorts in summer.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wears	wear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shorts	short	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | He | shorts |  |  | summer |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent short=Source |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They only stayed a short time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:short:x9:1
# text = They only stayed a short time.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | They |  |  |  | time |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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