---
title: astute — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «astute» in the school dictionary: Clever at understanding people and situations quickly, and using that to your advantage; sharp and shrewd. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# astute

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** That, astute detective, Badger, astute old animal, weasels, She · **What happens:** understand, use, be, notice, know, trick · **To what, where:** people, that, astute guess, mud, boots, astute old animal

<!-- .vabout -->
«astute» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 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: [astute in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/astute.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clever at understanding people and situations quickly, and using that to your advantage; sharp and shrewd.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:m1:1
# text = Clever at understanding people and situations quickly, and using that to your advantage; sharp and shrewd.
1	Clever	clever	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	understanding	understand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	situations	situation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	advantage	advantage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
16	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	shrewd	shrewd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | gerund |  | people and situations |  |  |  | clever, quickly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer people=Stimulus |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  | that |  |  |  | to your advantage | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That was an astute guess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x1:1
# text = That was an astute guess.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | That | a astute guess |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The astute detective noticed the mud on the boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x2:1
# text = The astute detective noticed the mud on the boots.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	noticed	notice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **notice** | past | the astute detective | the mud |  | the boots |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer mud=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Badger was an astute old animal who knew the weasels' tricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x3:1
# text = Badger was an astute old animal who knew the weasels' tricks.
1	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Badger | a astute old animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | past | a astute old animal | the weasels's tricks |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer trick=Stimulus |
| 3 | **trick** |  | the weasels |  |  |  |  |  | nom trick «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made an astute choice and saved money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x4:1
# text = She made an astute choice and saved money.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a astute choice |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent choice=Product |
| 2 | **save** | past | She *not said here* | money |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An astute reader will spot the clue in chapter one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x5:1
# text = An astute reader will spot the clue in chapter one.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | future | a astute reader | the clue |  |  |  | in chapter | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent clue=Destination in chapter=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cat was astute and made a clever bargain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x6:1
# text = The Cat was astute and made a clever bargain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bargain	bargain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Cat |  |  |  |  | astute *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past | the Cat *not said here* | a clever bargain |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bargain=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But Hermes, astute as he was dishonest, determined to test the shepherd's integrity.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:astute:x7:1
# text = But Hermes, astute as he was dishonest, determined to test the shepherd's integrity.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	Hermes	Hermes	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	astute	astute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	dishonest	dishonest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	determined	determined	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	test	test	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	integrity	integrity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Hermes |  |  |  |  | dishonest *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Hermes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **test** | to-infinitive | Hermes *not said here* | the shepherd's integrity |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent integrity=Theme |

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**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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