---
title: smaller — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «smaller» in the school dictionary: Smaller means less big: a mouse is smaller than a cat. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# smaller

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Smaller, mouse, 3, number, smaller box, smaller number · **What happens:** mean, be, hold, find, cut · **To what, where:** less, 6 eggs, 20, apple, smaller pieces

<!-- .vabout -->
«smaller» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [smaller in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/smaller.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smaller means less big: a mouse is smaller than a cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:m1:1
# text = Smaller means less big: a mouse is smaller than a cat.
1	Smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
4	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Smaller | less |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent less=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | a mouse |  |  |  |  | than a cat; small *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Smaller means less in number or amount: 3 is smaller than 5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:m2:1
# text = Smaller means less in number or amount: 3 is smaller than 5.
1	Smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Smaller | less |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent less=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | 3 |  |  |  |  | than 5; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which number is smaller, 45 or 54?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x1:1
# text = Which number is smaller, 45 or 54?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	45	45	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	54	54	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | which number |  |  |  |  | 45 *obl*; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smaller box holds 6 eggs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x2:1
# text = The smaller box holds 6 eggs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	eggs	egg	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 | **hold** | present | the smaller box | 6 eggs |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smaller number is 8 less than the bigger one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x3:1
# text = The smaller number is 8 less than the bigger one.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the smaller number |  |  |  |  | than the bigger one; less *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find the smaller of two numbers whose sum is 20.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x4:1
# text = Find the smaller of two numbers whose sum is 20.
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | sum | 20 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My feet are smaller than my dad's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x5:1
# text = My feet are smaller than my dad's.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My feet |  |  |  |  | than my dad; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut the apple into smaller pieces for the baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x6:1
# text = Cut the apple into smaller pieces for the baby.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | the apple |  | smaller pieces |  | for the baby | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.product PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent apple=Material into piece=Product for baby=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sign \< means smaller than.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x7:1
# text = The sign < means smaller than.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	<	<	SYM	SYM	_	2	compound	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	ccomp	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is smaller than a picket-pin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smaller:x8:1
# text = He is smaller than a picket-pin.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	picket	picket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	pin	pin	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 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | than a picket pin; small *property* | 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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