This is part of archived UD v1 documentation. See http://universaldependencies.org/ for the current version.
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mwe: multi-word expression

The multi-word expression (modifier) relation is one of the three relations (compound, mwe, name) for compounding. It is used for certain fixed grammaticized expressions that behave like function words or short adverbials.

The scope of mwe annotation corresponds roughly to the fixed expressions category of Sag et al., but excludes any relations in scope of name or compound. Additionally, limited morphosyntactic variation may be allowed for MWEs in exceptional cases.

I like dogs as well as cats
mwe(as-4, well-5)
mwe(as-4, as-6)
He cried because of you
mwe(because, of)
Je préfère prendre un dessert plutôt qu' une entrée \n I prefer getting a dessert rather than an appetizer
mwe(plutôt, qu')

Multiword expressions are annotated in a flat, head-initial structure, in which all words in the expression modify the first one using the mwe label.


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