---
title: barren — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «barren» in the school dictionary: Of land: too poor to grow plants or crops; bare and empty: a barren desert. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# barren

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nothing, Arctic tundra, barren tree, Sarah, land, talks · **What happens:** grow, have, not produce, give, look, be · **To what, where:** plants, babies, barren hillside, apples, Bible, Isaac

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of land: too poor to grow plants or crops; bare and empty: a barren desert.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:m1:1
# text = Of land: too poor to grow plants or crops; bare and empty: a barren desert.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	bare	bare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | to-infinitive |  | plants or crops |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location plant=Theme |

<!-- .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: old, also Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a woman or animal: not able to have babies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:m2:1
# text = Of a woman or animal: not able to have babies.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a plant or tree: not producing fruit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:m3:1
# text = Of a plant or tree: not producing fruit.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	producing	produce	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **produce** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Empty, giving no results: a barren argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:m4:1
# text = Empty, giving no results: a barren argument.
1	Empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing grew on the barren hillside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x1:1
# text = Nothing grew on the barren hillside.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hillside	hillside	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 | **grow** | past | Nothing |  |  | the barren hillside |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on hillside=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Arctic tundra looks barren in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x2:1
# text = The Arctic tundra looks barren in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Arctic	arctic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tundra	tundra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the Arctic tundra |  |  |  | winter | barren *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barren tree gave no apples.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x3:1
# text = The barren tree gave no apples.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the barren tree | no apples |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apple=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Sarah was barren until she had Isaac.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x4:1
# text = In the Bible, Sarah was barren until she had Isaac.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Sarah	Sarah	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	Isaac	Isaac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Sarah |  |  | the Bible |  | barren *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | Sarah | Isaac |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent isaac=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the fire, the land was barren.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x5:1
# text = After the fire, the land was barren.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the land |  |  |  | after the fire | barren *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The talks were long and barren.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x6:1
# text = The talks were long and barren.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	talks	talk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the talks |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the talks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So the brave old horse was turned out to find what he could among the rocks on the barren hill-side.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barren:x7:1
# text = So the brave old horse was turned out to find what he could among the rocks on the barren hill-side.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	among	among	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
19	barren	barren	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
20	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn out** | past · passive |  | the brave old horse |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | among the rocks on the barren hill side | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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