---
title: addiction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «addiction» in the school dictionary: An addiction is a strong need to keep doing or taking something, like drugs, alcohol, smoking or gambling, even when it causes harm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# addiction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** addiction, my, Smoking, He, his, Nicotine · **What happens:** be, keep, do, take, cause, mean · **To what, where:** strong need, something, harm, strong liking, help, addiction

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An addiction is a strong need to keep doing or taking something, like drugs, alcohol, smoking or gambling, even when it causes harm.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:m1:1
# text = An addiction is a strong need to keep doing or taking something, like drugs, alcohol, smoking or gambling, even when it causes harm.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	conj	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	drugs	drug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	gambling	gambling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
23	even	even	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
24	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	26	advmod	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
27	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a addiction | a strong need |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **take** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument something=Theme drug=Destination |
| 5 | **cause** | present | addiction | harm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition harm=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An addiction can jokingly mean a very strong liking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:m2:1
# text = An addiction can jokingly mean a very strong liking.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	liking	liking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"my chocolate addiction".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:m2e:1
# text = "my chocolate addiction".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **addict** *in a quote* |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom addiction «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smoking can lead to addiction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x1:1
# text = Smoking can lead to addiction.
1	Smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	lead	lead	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	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 | **lead** | can | Smoking |  |  |  |  | to addiction | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to addiction=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He got help for his addiction to gambling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x2:1
# text = He got help for his addiction to gambling.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	gambling	gambling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | He | help |  |  |  | for his addiction to gambling | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent help=Theme for addiction=Source |
| 2 | **addict** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  | to gambling | nom addiction «state transitive»: poss=agent to=obl |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nicotine in cigarettes causes addiction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x3:1
# text = Nicotine in cigarettes causes addiction.
1	Nicotine	nicotine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	cigarettes	cigarette	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Nicotine in cigarettes | addiction |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition addiction=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some games are designed to cause a kind of addiction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x4:1
# text = Some games are designed to cause a kind of addiction.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	designed	design	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **design** | present · passive |  | some games |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Result |
| 2 | **cause** | to-infinitive |  | a kind of addiction |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition kind=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Addiction is an illness, and people can recover.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x5:1
# text = Addiction is an illness, and people can recover.
1	Addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	recover	recover	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Addiction | a illness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **recover** | can | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her addiction to sweets is a family joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x6:1
# text = Her addiction to sweets is a family joke.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Her addiction to sweets | a family joke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **addict** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  | to sweets | nom addiction «state transitive»: poss=agent to=obl |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors help people with addiction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x7:1
# text = Doctors help people with addiction.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Doctors |  | people |  |  | with addiction | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary with addiction=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talk to an adult you trust if you are worried about someone's addiction.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:addiction:x8:1
# text = Talk to an adult you trust if you are worried about someone's addiction.
1	Talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	trust	trust	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	addiction	addiction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to a adult | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to adult=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **trust** | present | you | a adult *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adult=Theme |
| 3 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | about someone's addiction; worried *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **addict** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom addiction «state transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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