---
title: clingy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clingy» in the school dictionary: Always wanting to be close to someone and not wanting to be left alone: a clingy toddler. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clingy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clingy toddler, puppy, little brother, you, her, wet T shirt · **What happens:** want, be, not want, leave, stick, follow · **To what, where:** clingy toddler, me, her, clingy plastic, food, suitcases

<!-- .vabout -->
«clingy» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [clingy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clingy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a person or pet — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always wanting to be close to someone and not wanting to be left alone: a clingy toddler.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:m1:1
# text = Always wanting to be close to someone and not wanting to be left alone: a clingy toddler.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	xcomp	_	_
14	alone	alone	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | gerund |  | a clingy toddler |  |  |  | always *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Pivot toddler=Theme |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a clingy toddler *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to someone; close *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **want** | gerund | a clingy toddler *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **leave** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive | a clingy toddler *not said here* |  |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V» |

<!-- .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: of clothes or material — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sticking closely to the body or to things: a clingy T-shirt, clingy plastic wrap.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:m2:1
# text = Sticking closely to the body or to things: a clingy T-shirt, clingy plastic wrap.
1	Sticking	stick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	csubj	_	_
2	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
12	T	t	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	shirt	shirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	wrap	wrap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to the body or things; closely *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent to body=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy was clingy and followed me everywhere.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x1:1
# text = The puppy was clingy and followed me everywhere.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the puppy |  |  |  |  | clingy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | past | the puppy *not said here* | me |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother is clingy on his first day at nursery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x2:1
# text = My little brother is clingy on his first day at nursery.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	nursery	nursery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be so clingy — let her play with others too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x3:1
# text = Don't be so clingy — let her play with others too.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
12	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | clingy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | you *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **play** | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with others | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with other=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wet T-shirt was clingy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x4:1
# text = The wet T-shirt was clingy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	T	t	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	shirt	shirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the wet T shirt |  |  |  |  | clingy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cling film is clingy plastic for wrapping food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x5:1
# text = Cling film is clingy plastic for wrapping food.
1	Cling	cling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	wrapping	wrap	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cling film | clingy plastic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wrap** | gerund | clingy plastic *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent food=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten got clingy when we packed our suitcases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clingy:x6:1
# text = The kitten got clingy when we packed our suitcases.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clingy	clingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	packed	pack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	suitcases	suitcase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the kitten |  |  |  |  | clingy *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **pack** | past | we | our suitcases |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent suitcase=Theme |

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**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.

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