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# simple

«simple» in Mova's school dictionary: **easy to understand or do, not complicated** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (simple, simpler, simplest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Simple means easy to understand or do, not complicated. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#m1)

2) Simple means plain, without decoration or extra things. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#m2)

3) Simple can mean basic and made of few parts. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In school, «simple» tasks are easy; «simple sentences» have one main clause; in maths, «simplify a fraction» means make it simpler (4/8 = 1/2), and simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel and axle, ramp) are basic tools in science. In everyday life, simple food or a simple dress is plain. In stories, «the simple life» is life without luxuries. Phrase: «It's as simple as that.»

### examples

- The instructions were simple to follow. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x1)
- This is a simple sum: 2 + 3. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x2)
- She wore a simple white dress. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x3)
- A lever is a simple machine. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x4)
- Write a simple sentence with one verb. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x5)
- The simplest answer is often the right one. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x6)
- Simplify the fraction 6/9 to 2/3. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x7)
- But Mowgli’s plan was simple enough. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/#x8)

### note

Comparative «simpler», superlative «simplest». Adverb «simply». Verb «simplify», noun «simplicity». In maths, «simplest form» of a fraction means you cannot divide top and bottom by the same number any more. «Simple» is not always «easy»: a simple idea can still take time.

### In the corpora

- [A parent sleeping on the sofa for a few nights may mean a disagreement, or something simple like snoring or a bad back.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up/12/)
- [A few quiet minutes, a hug, or a simple «Are you OK?» often help most.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/34-when-grown-ups-are-tired-or-worried/9/)
- [A headline word like «Megxit» or «snub» makes a complicated choice sound simple and nasty.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/44-the-royal-family-in-the-news-a-wedding-a-move-to-america-an-interview-and-a-book/23/)
- [A family rule like "if anything odd comes on, switch off and tell" makes the next time simple.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/59-the-parents-walk-in-how-good-parents-react/25/)
- [Even simple recipes from a bot can have mistakes, such as a missing ingredient.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/7-pretend-games-quotes-and-two-bots/16/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «simple» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simple/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.