---
title: surpass — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «surpass» in the school dictionary: To surpass is to be better or greater than someone or something: she surpassed her own best score. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# surpass

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** she, her, result, our, score, everyone · **What happens:** surpass, be, score, expect, hope, raise · **To what, where:** own best score, hopes, class, other buildings, lots, personal best

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To surpass is to be better or greater than someone or something: she surpassed her own best score.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:m1:1
# text = To surpass is to be better or greater than someone or something: she surpassed her own best score.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	surpass	surpass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	greater	great	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
17	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
18	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	19	amod	_	_
19	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | to-infinitive | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | than someone; good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **surpass** | past | she | her own best score |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot score=Theme |
| 5 | **score** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To surpass is to go beyond what was expected or hoped: the result surpassed our hopes.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:m2:1
# text = To surpass is to go beyond what was expected or hoped: the result surpassed our hopes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	surpass	surpass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	beyond	beyond	ADP	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	hoped	hope	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
16	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	hopes	hope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | go *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **expect** | past · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 4 | **hope** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **surpass** | past | the result | our hopes |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot hope=Theme |
| 6 | **hope** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her score surpassed everyone else's in the class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x1:1
# text = Her score surpassed everyone else's in the class.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
5	else	else	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | past | Her score |  |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | present | everyone |  |  | the class |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **score** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tower surpassed all the other buildings in height.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x2:1
# text = The tower surpassed all the other buildings in height.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	7	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | past | the tower | all other buildings |  |  |  | in height | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot building=Theme in height=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school fair surpassed our hopes and raised lots of money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x3:1
# text = The school fair surpassed our hopes and raised lots of money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	fair	fair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hopes	hope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	raised	raise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | past | the school fair | our hopes |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot hope=Theme |
| 2 | **raise** | past | the school fair *not said here* | lots of money |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |
| 3 | **hope** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He surpassed his personal best in the 100 metres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x4:1
# text = He surpassed his personal best in the 100 metres.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	personal	personal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | past | He | his personal best |  |  |  | in the 100 metres | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot good=Theme in metre=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film surpassed all the others in ticket sales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x5:1
# text = The film surpassed all the others in ticket sales.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	surpassed	surpass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	ticket	ticket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | past | the film | all others |  |  |  | in ticket sales | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot other=Theme in sale=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If the class raises 300 pounds, it will surpass its goal of 250.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x6:1
# text = If the class raises 300 pounds, it will surpass its goal of 250.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	raises	raise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
5	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	surpass	surpass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	250	250	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the class | 300 pounds |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pound=Theme |
| 2 | **surpass** | future | class | class's goal of 250 |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot goal=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No one could surpass him in depth of feeling or in readiness of intellect.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surpass:x7:1
# text = No one could surpass him in depth of feeling or in readiness of intellect.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	surpass	surpass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	depth	depth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	readiness	readiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	intellect	intellect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surpass** | could | no one | him *= he* |  |  |  | in depth of feeling or readiness of intellect | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot he=Theme in depth=Attribute |

<!-- 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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