---
title: simple — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «simple» in the school dictionary: Simple means easy to understand or do, not complicated. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# simple

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** instructions, This, She, lever, you, simplest answer · **What happens:** mean, understand, do, make, be, follow · **To what, where:** plain decoration, simple sum, simple white dress, simple machine, simple sentence, right one

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Simple means easy to understand or do, not complicated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:m1:1
# text = Simple means easy to understand or do, not complicated.
1	Simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	complicated	complicated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
Simple means plain, without decoration or extra things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:m2:1
# text = Simple means plain, without decoration or extra things.
1	Simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	plain	plain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	decoration	decoration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | plain decoration or extra things |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decoration=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Simple can mean basic and made of few parts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:m3:1
# text = Simple can mean basic and made of few parts.
1	Simple	simply	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | basic, simply *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of few parts | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The instructions were simple to follow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x1:1
# text = The instructions were simple to follow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the instructions |  |  |  |  | simple *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | to-infinitive | the instructions *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This is a simple sum: 2 + 3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x2:1
# text = This is a simple sum: 2 + 3.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	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	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	appos	_	_
8	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	9	cc	_	_
9	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore a simple white dress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x3:1
# text = She wore a simple white dress.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | a simple white dress |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent dress=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lever is a simple machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x4:1
# text = A lever is a simple machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a simple sentence with one verb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x5:1
# text = Write a simple sentence with one verb.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a simple sentence |  |  |  | with one verb | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The simplest answer is often the right one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x6:1
# text = The simplest answer is often the right one.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	simplest	simple	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the simplest answer | the right one |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Simplify the fraction 6/9 to 2/3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x7:1
# text = Simplify the fraction 6/9 to 2/3.
1	Simplify	simplify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fraction	fraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	6/9	6/9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	flat	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	2/3	2/3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **simplify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the fraction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But Mowgli’s plan was simple enough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simple:x8:1
# text = But Mowgli’s plan was simple enough.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
2	Mowgli	Mowgli	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	’s	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Mowgli's plan |  |  |  |  | enough, simple *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | Mowgli |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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