---
title: superficially — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superficially» in the school dictionary: Superficially means only on the surface or at first look, not deeply: «They look superficially alike». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superficially

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** surface, Bats, He, driver, twins, problem · **What happens:** mean, look, do, injure, hurt, be · **To what, where:** surface, skin, mammals, chapter, main point, problem · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superficially means only on the surface or at first look, not deeply: «They look superficially alike».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:m1:1
# text = Superficially means only on the surface or at first look, not deeply: «They look superficially alike».
1	Superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	deeply	deeply	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
18	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	alike	alike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | the surface or first look |  |  |  | superficially *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** *in a quote* | present | surface |  |  |  |  | alike *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Superficially can mean done quickly and carelessly, without real thought or care.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:m2:1
# text = Superficially can mean done quickly and carelessly, without real thought or care.
1	Superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
5	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	carelessly	carelessly	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | superficially *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | without real thought or care; quickly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: medical — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superficially injured means hurt only on the skin, not deep inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:m3:1
# text = Superficially injured means hurt only on the skin, not deep inside.
1	Superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	injured	injure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	deep	deep	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **injure** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | superficially *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hurt** | participle |  |  |  | the skin |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats and birds are superficially alike, but bats are mammals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x1:1
# text = Bats and birds are superficially alike, but bats are mammals.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	alike	alike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	mammals	mammal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Bats and birds |  |  |  |  | alike, superficially *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | bats | mammals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He read the chapter only superficially and missed the main point.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x2:1
# text = He read the chapter only superficially and missed the main point.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	missed	miss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | He | the chapter |  |  |  | superficially *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chapter=Topic |
| 2 | **miss** | past | He *not said here* | the main point |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer point=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The driver was superficially injured, with just a few scratches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x3:1
# text = The driver was superficially injured, with just a few scratches.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	injured	injured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	scratches	scratch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the driver |  |  |  |  | with a few scratches; injured, superficially *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The twins look superficially the same but act very differently.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x4:1
# text = The twins look superficially the same but act very differently.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	act	act	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	differently	differently	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the twins |  |  |  |  | same *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **act** | present | the twins *not said here* |  |  |  |  | differently *property* | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The problem was fixed superficially, so it came back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x5:1
# text = The problem was fixed superficially, so it came back.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | past · passive |  | the problem |  |  |  | superficially *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **come back** | past | problem |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superficially, the plan looked good.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superficially:x6:1
# text = Superficially, the plan looked good.
1	Superficially	superficially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the plan |  |  |  |  | good, superficially *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

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**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.

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