---
title: special — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «special» in the school dictionary: Special means different from usual, often better or more important: a special day. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# special

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Special, special dish, Today, it, You, special glasses · **What happens:** mean, be, offer, need, watch, wear · **To what, where:** special dish, special day, birthday, me, special glasses, eclipse

<!-- .vabout -->
«special» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [special in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/special.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Special means different from usual, often better or more important: a special day.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:m1:1
# text = Special means different from usual, often better or more important: a special day.
1	Special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	parataxis	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
11	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Special |  |  |  |  | different *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 -->
Special means for one particular person or purpose: special shoes for dancing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:m2:1
# text = Special means for one particular person or purpose: special shoes for dancing.
1	Special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Special |  |  |  |  | for one particular person or purpose | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot for person=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A special is a dish or offer available only for a short time: «today's special».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:m3:1
# text = A special is a dish or offer available only for a short time: «today's special».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dish	dish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	offer	offer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	available	available	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a special dish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **offer** | infinitive | a special dish |  |  |  | time | available *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today is a special day — it's my birthday!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x1:1
# text = Today is a special day — it's my birthday!
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Today | a special day and my birthday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | my birthday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You are special to me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x2:1
# text = You are special to me.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	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 | You |  | me |  |  | special *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You need special glasses to watch the eclipse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x3:1
# text = You need special glasses to watch the eclipse.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	eclipse	eclipse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | You | special glasses |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | special glasses *not said here* | the eclipse |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eclipse=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wear special shoes for gymnastics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x4:1
# text = We wear special shoes for gymnastics.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	gymnastics	gymnastic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | We | special shoes |  |  |  | for gymnastics | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The café has a soup special today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x5:1
# text = The café has a soup special today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the café | a soup  today |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soup=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sweets are a special treat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x6:1
# text = Sweets are a special treat.
1	Sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	treat	treat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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** | present | Sweets | a special treat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film had amazing special effects.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x7:1
# text = The film had amazing special effects.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	effects	effect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the film | amazing special effects |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The meal was nice, but nothing special.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x8:1
# text = The meal was nice, but nothing special.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	4	conj	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each is distinguished by its own special characteristics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:special:x9:1
# text = Each is distinguished by its own special characteristics.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	distinguished	distinguish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	characteristics	characteristic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distinguish** | present · passive | its own special characteristics | Each |  |  |  |  | vn distinguish-23.5-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Attribute subject=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 -->

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