---
title: slow — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slow» in the school dictionary: Slow means not fast; it takes a long time to move or to do something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slow

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Slow, it, slow clock, this, slow day, little · **What happens:** not mean, take, move, do, show, slow down · **To what, where:** something, one, 40 miles, 2 litres, school, goal · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«slow» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [slow in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slow.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow means not fast; it takes a long time to move or to do something.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:m1:1
# text = Slow means not fast; it takes a long time to move or to do something.
1	Slow	slow	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	2	advmod	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present | Slow |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **take** | present | it |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 slow clock or watch shows a time earlier than the real time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:m2:1
# text = A slow clock or watch shows a time earlier than the real time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	watch	watch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	earlier	early	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a slow clock or watch |  |  |  | time | early *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To slow down is to go less fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:m3:1
# text = To slow down is to go less fast.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	slow	slow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | fast, go *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow can mean not quick to learn or understand (this can be unkind to say about a person).

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:m4:1
# text = Slow can mean not quick to learn or understand (this can be unkind to say about a person).
1	Slow	slow	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	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	csubj	_	_
17	about	about	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Slow |  |  |  |  | quick *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Slow *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **understand** | infinitive | Slow *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** | can | this |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about a person | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A slow day or time is one when little happens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:m5:1
# text = A slow day or time is one when little happens.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nsubj	_	_
10	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a slow day or time | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | present | little |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slow train goes 40 miles an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x1:1
# text = The slow train goes 40 miles an hour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	miles	mile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | the slow train | 40 miles  a hour |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location mile=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tortoise is slower than the hare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x2:1
# text = The tortoise is slower than the hare.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	slower	slow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hare	hare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the tortoise |  |  |  |  | than the hare; slow *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slow pump fills 2 litres a minute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x3:1
# text = The slow pump fills 2 litres a minute.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pump	pump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fills	fill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	litres	litre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | present | the slow pump | 2 litres |  |  | minute |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent litre=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is 5 minutes slower than Tom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x4:1
# text = She is 5 minutes slower than Tom.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	slower	slow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Tom	Tom	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 | She |  |  |  | minute | than Tom; slow *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cars must go slow near the school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x5:1
# text = Cars must go slow near the school.
1	Cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	slow	slow	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | must | Cars |  |  | the school |  | slow *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme near school=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My watch is 3 minutes slow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x6:1
# text = My watch is 3 minutes slow.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	watch	watch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow down, the floor is wet!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x7:1
# text = Slow down, the floor is wet!
1	Slow	slow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	down	down	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the floor |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film showed the goal in slow motion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x8:1
# text = The film showed the goal in slow motion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	motion	motion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the film | the goal |  |  |  | in slow motion | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent goal=Patient in motion=Topic |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow and steady wins the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slow:x9:1
# text = Slow and steady wins the race.
1	Slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	wins	win	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | present | Slow | the race |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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