---
title: cautious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cautious» in the school dictionary: Careful to avoid danger, risks or mistakes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cautious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Slow, you, cat, She, He, Scientists · **What happens:** avoid, risk, decide, trust, be, cross · **To what, where:** danger, busy road, cautious step, ice, cautious driver, fog

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Careful to avoid danger, risks or mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:m1:1
# text = Careful to avoid danger, risks or mistakes.
1	Careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	risks	risk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avoid** | to-infinitive |  | danger |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent danger=Location |
| 2 | **risk** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn risk-94-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Slow to decide or to trust, as in «cautious about strangers».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:m2:1
# text = Slow to decide or to trust, as in «cautious about strangers».
1	Slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	trust	trust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | to-infinitive | Slow |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **trust** | to-infinitive | Slow *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be cautious when crossing a busy road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x1:1
# text = Be cautious when crossing a busy road.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	crossing	cross	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | cautious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cross** | gerund | you *not said here* | a busy road |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat was cautious around the new puppy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x2:1
# text = The cat was cautious around the new puppy.
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	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  | around the new puppy; cautious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is cautious about talking to strangers online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x3:1
# text = She is cautious about talking to strangers online.
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	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	online	online	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | cautious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to strangers; online *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to stranger=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He took a cautious step onto the ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x4:1
# text = He took a cautious step onto the ice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | He | a cautious step |  | the ice |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent step=Theme onto ice=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cautious driver slowed down in the fog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x5:1
# text = The cautious driver slowed down in the fog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	slowed	slow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slow down** | participle |  | the cautious driver *not said here* |  | the fog |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists were cautious about the early results.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x6:1
# text = Scientists were cautious about the early results.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Scientists |  |  |  |  | about the early results; cautious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cautious guess is about 50 sweets in the jar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x7:1
# text = My cautious guess is about 50 sweets in the jar.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My cautious guess | 50 sweets |  | the jar |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **guess** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom guess «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Fox came too, but he was very cautious about it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cautious:x8:1
# text = The Fox came too, but he was very cautious about it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	cautious	cautious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the Fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Fox |  |  |  |  | about it; cautious *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 -->

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