---
title: dawdle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dawdle» in the school dictionary: To dawdle is to walk or do something too slowly, wasting time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dawdle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, we, He, She, tortoise, ice cream · **What happens:** dawdle, be, do, waste, not dawdle, miss · **To what, where:** something, bus, way, breakfast, shop · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dawdle is to walk or do something too slowly, wasting time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:m1:1
# text = To dawdle is to walk or do something too slowly, wasting time.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dawdle	dawdle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	wasting	waste	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dawdle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | walk *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **waste** | gerund |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't dawdle, we'll miss the bus!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x1:1
# text = Don't dawdle, we'll miss the bus!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	dawdle	dawdle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	miss	miss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **dawdle** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **miss** | future | we | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bus=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He dawdled on his way to school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x2:1
# text = He dawdled on his way to school.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dawdled	dawdle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dawdle** | past | He |  |  | his way to school |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on way=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop dawdling and finish your breakfast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x3:1
# text = Stop dawdling and finish your breakfast.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	dawdling	dawdle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	finish	finish	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **dawdle** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **finish** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your breakfast |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality breakfast=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She dawdled behind, looking at shop windows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x4:1
# text = She dawdled behind, looking at shop windows.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dawdled	dawdle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dawdle** | past | She |  |  |  |  | behind *property* | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at shop windows | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at window=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tortoise didn't dawdle; it kept going.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x5:1
# text = The tortoise didn't dawdle; it kept going.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	dawdle	dawdle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **dawdle** | past · do-support | the tortoise |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | past | tortoise |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | gerund | tortoise *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you dawdle in the shop, the ice cream will melt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x6:1
# text = If you dawdle in the shop, the ice cream will melt.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dawdle	dawdle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	melt	melt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dawdle** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  | the shop |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in shop=Location |
| 2 | **melt** | future | the ice cream |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I know when I may dawdle and when I may not."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dawdle:x7:1
# text = I know when I may dawdle and when I may not."
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	dawdle	dawdle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **dawdle** | may | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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