---
title: careless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «careless» in the school dictionary: Careless means not paying enough attention, so you make mistakes or cause harm: a careless mistake. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# careless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Careless, you, I, He, dog, Careless driving · **What happens:** mean, not pay, make, not care, worry, write · **To what, where:** enough attention, mistakes, careless mistake, 54, gate, accidents

<!-- .vabout -->
«careless» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [careless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/careless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Careless means not paying enough attention, so you make mistakes or cause harm: a careless mistake.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:m1:1
# text = Careless means not paying enough attention, so you make mistakes or cause harm: a careless mistake.
1	Careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
5	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Careless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **pay** *not said to happen* | gerund | Careless *not said here* | enough attention |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |
| 3 | **make** | present | you | mistakes or cause harm and a careless mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Careless means not caring or worrying about something: careless of danger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:m2:1
# text = Careless means not caring or worrying about something: careless of danger.
1	Careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	caring	care	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	worrying	worry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	careless	careles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Careless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **care** *not said to happen* | gerund | Careless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **worry** | gerund | Careless *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about something | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus what S»: agent=Experiencer about something=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Careless can also mean relaxed and natural, without effort: careless happiness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:m3:1
# text = Careless can also mean relaxed and natural, without effort: careless happiness.
1	Careless	careles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	relaxed	relaxed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I made a careless mistake and wrote 54 instead of 45.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x1:1
# text = I made a careless mistake and wrote 54 instead of 45.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	54	54	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	45	45	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | I | a careless mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |
| 2 | **write** | past | I *not said here* | 54 |  |  |  | instead 45 | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 54=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be careless with matches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x2:1
# text = Don't be careless with matches.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	matches	match	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with matches; careless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was careless and left the gate open, so the dog ran out.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x3:1
# text = He was careless and left the gate open, so the dog ran out.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | careless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | past | He *not said here* | the gate |  |  |  | open *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gate=Theme |
| 3 | **run out** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Careless driving can cause accidents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x4:1
# text = Careless driving can cause accidents.
1	Careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	driving	driving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	accidents	accident	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Careless driving | accidents |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition accident=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is careless with her things and loses her pencils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x5:1
# text = She is careless with her things and loses her pencils.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	loses	lose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	pencils	pencil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | with her things; careless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | present | She *not said here* | her pencils |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check your work to avoid careless errors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x6:1
# text = Check your work to avoid careless errors.
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	errors	error	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | your work |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Theme |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | careless errors |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent error=Location |
| 3 | **work** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A careless word can hurt a friend's feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x7:1
# text = A careless word can hurt a friend's feelings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | can | a careless word | a friend's feelings |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer feeling=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The careless camper left the fire burning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x8:1
# text = The careless camper left the fire burning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	camper	camper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	left	leave	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	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the careless camper | the fire |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Theme |
| 2 | **burn** | gerund | the fire *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
'Why, you have forgotten your axe again, you careless man!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:careless:x9:1
# text = 'Why, you have forgotten your axe again, you careless man!
1	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	forgotten	forget	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | present · perfect | you | your axe |  |  | again |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **man** |  | you |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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