---
title: costly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «costly» in the school dictionary: Costly means costing a lot of money; expensive. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# costly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Costly, new bike, Missing, Repairing, Leaving, delay · **What happens:** mean, cost, cause, be, miss, repair · **To what, where:** lot, big loss, penalty, costly mistake, roof, lights

<!-- .vabout -->
«costly» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [costly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/costly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Costly means costing a lot of money; expensive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:m1:1
# text = Costly means costing a lot of money; expensive.
1	Costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	costing	cost	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	expensive	expensive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Costly |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cost** *not said to happen* | gerund | Costly *not said here* | a lot of money |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme lot=Value |

<!-- .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 -->
Costly means causing a big loss or harm: «a costly mistake».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:m2:1
# text = Costly means causing a big loss or harm: «a costly mistake».
1	Costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Costly |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | Costly *not said here* | a big loss or harm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition loss=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new bike was too costly for us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x1:1
# text = The new bike was too costly for us.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the new bike |  |  |  |  | for us; costly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Missing the penalty was a costly mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x2:1
# text = Missing the penalty was a costly mistake.
1	Missing	miss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	penalty	penalty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** | gerund |  | the penalty |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer penalty=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Missing | a costly mistake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Repairing the roof will be costly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x3:1
# text = Repairing the roof will be costly.
1	Repairing	repair	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repair** | gerund |  | the roof |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent roof=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | future | Repairing |  |  |  |  | costly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which is more costly, 3 pens at 2 dollars or 1 book at 5 dollars?

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x4:1
# text = Which is more costly, 3 pens at 2 dollars or 1 book at 5 dollars?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
16	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | 3 pens at 2 dollars or 1 book at 5 dollars *obl*; costly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving the lights on is costly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x5:1
# text = Leaving the lights on is costly.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave on** | gerund |  | the lights |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent light=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Leaving |  |  |  |  | costly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The delay proved costly for the team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x6:1
# text = The delay proved costly for the team.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	proved	prove	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	costly	costly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prove** | past | the delay |  |  |  |  | for the team; costly *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He already possessed a costly block of that stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:costly:x7:1
# text = He already possessed a costly block of that stone.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	already	already	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	possessed	possess	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	costly	costly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | past | He | a costly block of that stone |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot block=Theme |

<!-- 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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