---
title: unique — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unique» in the school dictionary: Unique means being the only one of its kind, unlike anything else: every snowflake is unique. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unique

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unique, snowflake, koalas, fingerprints, person, Kangaroos · **What happens:** mean, be, find, use, fingerprint, have · **To what, where:** only one, Australia, Unique, unique solution, unique garden, roof · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unique means being the only one of its kind, unlike anything else: every snowflake is unique.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:m1:1
# text = Unique means being the only one of its kind, unlike anything else: every snowflake is unique.
1	Unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	unlike	unlike	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	_
13	else	else	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	snowflake	snowflake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unique |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | gerund |  | the only one |  |  |  | of its kind | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | every snowflake |  |  |  |  | unique *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 -->
Unique to something means found only there: koalas are unique to Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:m2:1
# text = Unique to something means found only there: koalas are unique to Australia.
1	Unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	case	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	koalas	koala	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | unique something | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **find** | participle |  |  |  | there |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | koalas |  | Australia |  |  | unique *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unique is often used to mean very special or unusual.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:m3:1
# text = Unique is often used to mean very special or unusual.
1	Unique	unique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Unique |  |  |  | often *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every person's fingerprints are unique.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x1:1
# text = Every person's fingerprints are unique.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	fingerprints	fingerprint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | every person's fingerprints |  |  |  |  | unique *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fingerprint** |  | every person |  |  |  |  |  | nom fingerprint «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kangaroos are unique to Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x2:1
# text = Kangaroos are unique to Australia.
1	Kangaroos	kangaroo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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 | Kangaroos |  | Australia |  |  | unique *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This puzzle has a unique solution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x3:1
# text = This puzzle has a unique solution.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	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	6	det	_	_
5	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	solution	solution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school has a unique garden on the roof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x4:1
# text = Our school has a unique garden on the roof.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	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	6	det	_	_
5	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone is unique, so we should not all be the same.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x5:1
# text = Everyone is unique, so we should not all be the same.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
7	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
9	all	all	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Everyone |  |  |  |  | unique *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | should | we |  |  |  |  | all, same *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a unique chance to meet a real astronaut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x6:1
# text = It was a unique chance to meet a real astronaut.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	meet	meet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	astronaut	astronaut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a unique chance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **meet** | to-infinitive |  | a real astronaut |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent astronaut=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each password should be unique so a hacker cannot guess them all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x7:1
# text = Each password should be unique so a hacker cannot guess them all.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hacker	hacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | should | each password |  |  |  |  | unique *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **guess** | can | a hacker | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum has a unique fossil found nowhere else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x8:1
# text = The museum has a unique fossil found nowhere else.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	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	6	det	_	_
5	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	nowhere	nowhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the museum | a unique fossil |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fossil=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | participle |  | a unique fossil *not said here* |  |  |  | nowhere *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Such a record is unique in the history of oral tradition, outside Ireland, where, however, it is quite a customary experience in the study of the Finn-saga.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unique:x9:1
# text = Such a record is unique in the history of oral tradition, outside Ireland, where, however, it is quite a customary experience in the study of the Finn-saga.
1	Such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	3	det:predet	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	record	record	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	tradition	tradition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
18	however	however	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
22	quite	quite	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	25	det:predet	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	customary	customary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
31	Finn	Finn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	33	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	saga	saga	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | such record |  |  | the history of oral tradition |  | outside Ireland; unique *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | record | quite customary experience |  | the study of the Finn saga |  | however *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **study** |  |  | the Finn saga |  |  |  |  | nom study «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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