---
title: sunni — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sunni» in the school dictionary: Sunni (Sunni Islam) is the largest branch, or group, of Islam; most Muslims in the world are Sunni. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sunni

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** most Muslims, Sunni, things, Sunni Muslims, we, family · **What happens:** be, belong, describe, follow, learn, share · **To what, where:** Sunni largest branch, things, Qur'an, RE, Sunni Muslims, many

<!-- .vabout -->
«sunni» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [sunni in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sunni.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunni (Sunni Islam) is the largest branch, or group, of Islam; most Muslims in the world are Sunni.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:m1:1
# text = Sunni (Sunni Islam) is the largest branch, or group, of Islam; most Muslims in the world are Sunni.
1	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Islam	Islam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Islam	Islam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	18	amod	_	_
18	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	23	nsubj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
23	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the Sunni largest branch or group and Islam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | most Muslims in the world |  |  |  |  | sunni *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 -->
A Sunni is a Muslim who belongs to this branch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:m2:1
# text = A Sunni is a Muslim who belongs to this branch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sunni	sunni	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
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	Muslim	Muslim	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	belongs	belong	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a Sunni |  |  |  |  | muslim *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **belong** | present |  |  |  |  |  | to this branch | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunni describes things belonging to this branch, such as Sunni mosques.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:m3:1
# text = Sunni describes things belonging to this branch, such as Sunni mosques.
1	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	mosques	mosque	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 2 | **belong** | gerund | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to this branch and Sunni mosques | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most Muslims in the world are Sunni.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x1:1
# text = Most Muslims in the world are Sunni.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Most Muslims in the world |  |  |  |  | sunni *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunni and Shia Muslims both follow the Qur'an.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x2:1
# text = Sunni and Shia Muslims both follow the Qur'an.
1	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Shia	Shia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	both	both	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Qur'an	Qur'an	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | Sunni Muslims | the Qur'an |  |  |  | both *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent qur'an=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In RE we learned about the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x3:1
# text = In RE we learned about the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	RE	RE	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	Shia	Shia	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Islam	Islam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we |  |  | RE |  | about the Sunni branches of Islam | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about branch=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My friend's family are Sunni Muslims.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x4:1
# text = My friend's family are Sunni Muslims.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My friend's family | Sunni Muslims |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sunni mosque was full for Friday prayers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x5:1
# text = The Sunni mosque was full for Friday prayers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mosque	mosque	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Sunni mosque |  |  |  |  | for Friday prayers; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunnis and Shias share many of the same beliefs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunni:x6:1
# text = Sunnis and Shias share many of the same beliefs.
1	Sunnis	sunni	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Shias	shia	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	beliefs	belief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | present | Sunnis and Shias | many of the same beliefs |  |  |  |  | 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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