---
title: challenging — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «challenging» in the school dictionary: hard, needing effort or skill (a challenging puzzle). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# challenging

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** This, company, class, pupils, Climbing, He · **What happens:** need, behave, question, confront, be, take · **To what, where:** effort, challenging child, challenging look, challenging maths problem, lot, challenging behaviour · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
hard, needing effort or skill (a challenging puzzle).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:m1:1
# text = hard, needing effort or skill (a challenging puzzle).
1	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	needing	need	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | gerund |  | effort or skill |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot effort=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: euphemism, jargon — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
bad, very difficult, troublesome: a «challenging child» = badly behaved; a «challenging year» = an awful one.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:m2:1
# text = bad, very difficult, troublesome: a «challenging child» = badly behaved; a «challenging year» = an awful one.
1	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	troublesome	troublesome	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	15	punct	_	_
14	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	15	advmod	_	_
15	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	_
22	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	25	punct	_	_
23	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	awful	awful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | participle |  | a challenging child and a awful one *not said here* |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
questioning or confronting (a challenging look).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:m3:1
# text = questioning or confronting (a challenging look).
1	questioning	question	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	confronting	confront	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **question** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn interrogate-37.1.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **confront** | gerund |  | a challenging look |  |  |  |  | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent look=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This is a challenging maths problem; take your time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x1:1
# text = This is a challenging maths problem; take your time.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | This | a challenging maths problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company had a challenging year (it lost a lot of money).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x2:1
# text = The company had a challenging year (it lost a lot of money).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the company |  |  |  | year |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lose** | past | company | a lot of money |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class has some challenging behaviour (some pupils misbehave).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x3:1
# text = The class has some challenging behaviour (some pupils misbehave).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
5	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	misbehave	misbehave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the class | some challenging behaviour |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent behaviour=Patient |
| 2 | **misbehave** | present | some pupils | some challenging behaviour *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Climbing the mountain was challenging but fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x4:1
# text = Climbing the mountain was challenging but fun.
1	Climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | gerund |  | the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Climbing |  |  |  |  | challenging *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Climbing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave the teacher a challenging stare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x5:1
# text = He gave the teacher a challenging stare.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stare	stare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a challenging stare | the teacher |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient stare=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news report called the weather «challenging»: a storm closed the roads.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x6:1
# text = The news report called the weather «challenging»: a storm closed the roads.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	challenging	challenging	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the news report *not said here* | the weather |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent weather=Recipient |
| 2 | **close** | participle | a storm *not said here* | the roads |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Report: «Sam can find group work challenging.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:challenging:x7:1
# text = Report: «Sam can find group work challenging.»
1	Report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl:relcl	_	_
7	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	challenging	challenge	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** *in a quote* | can | Sam | group work |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Topic |
| 2 | **challenge** *in a quote* | gerund | group work *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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