---
title: upper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «upper» in the school dictionary: Upper means higher up, or above something else of the same kind. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# upper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Upper, top part, you, your, We, upper arm · **What happens:** mean, be, cover, write, name, sleep · **To what, where:** higher, nearer top, top part, foot, name, upper floor · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«upper» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [upper in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/upper.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Upper means higher up, or above something else of the same kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:m1:1
# text = Upper means higher up, or above something else of the same kind.
1	Upper	upper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
4	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	conj	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Upper | higher |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent high=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Upper can mean nearer the top of a place, a river or a land: the upper floor, the upper Nile.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:m2:1
# text = Upper can mean nearer the top of a place, a river or a land: the upper floor, the upper Nile.
1	Upper	upper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	nearer	near	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	Nile	Nile	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Upper | the nearer top of a place and a river or a land |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent top=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Upper can mean higher in rank or level: the upper school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:m3:1
# text = Upper can mean higher in rank or level: the upper school.
1	Upper	upper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Upper |  |  |  |  | high *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The upper of a shoe is the top part that covers the foot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:m4:1
# text = The upper of a shoe is the top part that covers the foot.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
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	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the upper | the top part |  |  |  | of a shoe | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | present | the top part | the foot |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme foot=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write your name with an upper-case first letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x1:1
# text = Write your name with an upper-case first letter.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	advmod	_	_
10	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | your name |  |  |  | with a upper case; letter *obl* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Theme |
| 2 | **name** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sleep on the upper floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x2:1
# text = We sleep on the upper floor.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present | We |  |  | the upper floor |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The upper arm goes from the shoulder to the elbow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x3:1
# text = The upper arm goes from the shoulder to the elbow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shoulder	shoulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	elbow	elbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | the upper arm |  |  | the shoulder |  | to the elbow | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme from shoulder=Initial\_Location to elbow=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Upper-school pupils help the little ones read.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x4:1
# text = Upper-school pupils help the little ones read.
1	Upper	upper	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	read	read	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | school pupils |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **read** | present | the little ones |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird has a red patch on its upper wing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x5:1
# text = The bird has a red patch on its upper wing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	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	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	patch	patch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	wing	wing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the bird | a red patch |  | bird's upper wing |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent patch=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With one goal more, our team had the upper hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x6:1
# text = With one goal more, our team had the upper hand.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | our team | the upper hand |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep a stiff upper lip means stay brave and calm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x7:1
# text = Keep a stiff upper lip means stay brave and calm.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	stiff	stiff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lip	lip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
8	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a stiff upper lip |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stay** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I only wish I were already on the upper bank.” \[\*\]

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* I only wish I were already on the upper bank.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x8:1
# text = I only wish I were already on the upper bank.”
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	wish	wish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
6	already	already	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wish** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | past | I |  |  | the upper bank |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* \[\*\]

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:upper:x8:2
# text = [*]
1	[	[	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	*	*	PUNCT	NFP	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	]	]	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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