---
title: busy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «busy» in the school dictionary: Having a lot to do; working on something now: «Mum is busy cooking». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# busy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Mum, use, phone line, I, you, Saturday · **What happens:** have, do, work, be, engage, ask · **To what, where:** lot, busy cooking, US, UK, homework, something · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«busy» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [busy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/busy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having a lot to do; working on something now: «Mum is busy cooking».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:m1:1
# text = Having a lot to do; working on something now: «Mum is busy cooking».
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
10	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	cooking	cooking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | a lot *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  | now | on something | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on something=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Mum | busy cooking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Full of people, traffic or activity: a busy road, a busy shop.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:m2:1
# text = Full of people, traffic or activity: a busy road, a busy shop.
1	Full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a phone line: in use, engaged (US: busy; UK: engaged).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:m3:1
# text = Of a phone line: in use, engaged (US: busy; UK: engaged).
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	engaged	engage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	engaged	engage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **engage** | participle | use *not said here* | US |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-2 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **engage** | participle · passive | a phone line *not said here* | UK |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a picture or pattern: with too many details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:m4:1
# text = Of a picture or pattern: with too many details.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm busy doing my homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x1:1
# text = I'm busy doing my homework.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | I *not said here* | my homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you busy? Can I ask you something?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Are you busy?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x2:1
# text = Are you busy?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Can I ask you something?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x2:2
# text = Can I ask you something?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | can | I | something | you |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cross the busy road at the zebra crossing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x3:1
# text = Cross the busy road at the zebra crossing.
1	Cross	cross	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | imperative | you *not said here* | the busy road |  | the zebra crossing |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saturday is the busiest day at the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x4:1
# text = Saturday is the busiest day at the shop.
1	Saturday	Saturday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	busiest	busy	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Saturday | the busiest day |  | the shop |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bees were busy collecting pollen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x5:1
# text = The bees were busy collecting pollen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	collecting	collect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
6	pollen	pollen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the bees |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **collect** | gerund | the bees *not said here* | pollen |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pollen=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep busy and the time will go faster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x6:1
# text = Keep busy and the time will go faster.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
8	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **go** | future | the time |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The line is busy — try again later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x7:1
# text = The line is busy — try again later.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the line |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | infinitive |  |  |  |  | again | late *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dad has a busy job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x8:1
# text = My dad has a busy job.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
See how busy all my guests are.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:busy:x9:1
# text = See how busy all my guests are.”
1	See	see	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	ccomp	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	parataxis	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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