---
title: sumerian — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sumerian» in the school dictionary: Sumerian means from or to do with Sumer, one of the world's first civilisations, in southern Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq), about 5,000 years ago. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sumerian

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sumerian, world, they, Sumerians, We, 60 minutes · **What happens:** mean, do, civilise, be, speak, write · **To what, where:** southern Mesopotamia, person, Sumer, language, cuneiform, clay tablets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sumerian» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [sumerian in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sumerian.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sumerian means from or to do with Sumer, one of the world's first civilisations, in southern Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq), about 5,000 years ago.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:m1:1
# text = Sumerian means from or to do with Sumer, one of the world's first civilisations, in southern Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq), about 5,000 years ago.
1	Sumerian	sumerian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Sumer	Sumer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	16	amod	_	_
16	civilisations	civilisation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	Mesopotamia	Mesopotamia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
21	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	24	advmod	_	_
23	southern	southern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	Iraq	Iraq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
27	about	about	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
28	5,000	5000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	29	nummod	_	_
29	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	30	obl:unmarked	_	_
30	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Sumerian |  |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | southern Mesopotamia |  | with Sumer | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **civilise** |  | the world |  |  |  |  |  | nom civilisation «process transitive»: poss=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 -->
A Sumerian was a person from Sumer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:m2:1
# text = A Sumerian was a person from Sumer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sumerian	Sumerian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Sumer	Sumer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a Sumerian | a person |  | Sumer |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sumerian is the language they spoke, written in cuneiform, one of the oldest written languages.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:m3:1
# text = Sumerian is the language they spoke, written in cuneiform, one of the oldest written languages.
1	Sumerian	sumerian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	17	amod	_	_
16	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sumerian | the language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | they | the language *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  | the language *not said here* |  | cuneiform |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in cuneiform=Destination |
| 4 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sumerians wrote on clay tablets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x1:1
# text = The Sumerians wrote on clay tablets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sumerians	Sumerian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tablets	tablet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the Sumerians |  |  | clay tablets |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on tablet=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sumerian cities were built between two rivers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x2:1
# text = Sumerian cities were built between two rivers.
1	Sumerian	sumerian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | Sumerian cities |  |  |  | between two rivers | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made Sumerian cuneiform with lolly sticks and clay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x3:1
# text = We made Sumerian cuneiform with lolly sticks and clay.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Sumerian	Sumerian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	lolly	lolly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | Sumerian cuneiform |  |  |  | with lolly sticks and clay | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cuneiform=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our 60 minutes in an hour comes from the Sumerian way of counting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x4:1
# text = Our 60 minutes in an hour comes from the Sumerian way of counting.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Sumerian	sumerian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	counting	count	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Our 60 minutes in a hour |  |  | the Sumerian way |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from way=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **count** | gerund | the Sumerian way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ur was a great Sumerian city.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x5:1
# text = Ur was a great Sumerian city.
1	Ur	Ur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	Sumerian	Sumerian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	city	city	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** | past | Ur | a great Sumerian city |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sumerian king Gilgamesh is the hero of a very old story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x6:1
# text = The Sumerian king Gilgamesh is the hero of a very old story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Sumerian	Sumerian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	Gilgamesh	Gilgamesh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Sumerian king | the hero |  |  |  | of a old story | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sumerian is not related to any language spoken today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sumerian:x7:1
# text = Sumerian is not related to any language spoken today.
1	Sumerian	sumerian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Sumerian |  |  |  |  | to any language; related *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  | any language *not said here* |  |  | today |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=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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