---
title: deficiency — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deficiency» in the school dictionary: A deficiency is a lack of something that is needed, not having enough of it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deficiency

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** deficiency, Lack, Sailors, Iron deficiency, formal report, Eating · **What happens:** be, need, not have, cause, lack, have · **To what, where:** lack, enough, weakness, D deficiency, sunlight, scurvy

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deficiency is a lack of something that is needed, not having enough of it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:m1:1
# text = A deficiency is a lack of something that is needed, not having enough of it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
14	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a deficiency | a lack |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **have** | gerund |  | enough of deficiency |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
A deficiency is a weakness or fault in something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:m2:1
# text = A deficiency is a weakness or fault in something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a deficiency | a weakness or fault in something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lack of sunlight can cause vitamin D deficiency.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x1:1
# text = Lack of sunlight can cause vitamin D deficiency.
1	Lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	vitamin	vitamin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	D	D	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Lack of sunlight | D deficiency |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition deficiency=Patient |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | sunlight |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors once had scurvy from a vitamin C deficiency.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x2:1
# text = Sailors once had scurvy from a vitamin C deficiency.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	scurvy	scurvy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	vitamin	vitamin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	C	c	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Sailors | scurvy |  | a C deficiency |  | once *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scurvy=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Iron deficiency can make you tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x3:1
# text = Iron deficiency can make you tired.
1	Iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Iron deficiency | you |  |  |  | tired *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset you=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The report pointed out deficiencies in the plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x4:1
# text = (formal) The report pointed out deficiencies in the plan.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pointed	point	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	deficiencies	deficiency	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point out** | past | the formal report | deficiencies |  |  |  | in the plan | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent deficiency=Patient in plan=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a deficiency of 20 chairs for the concert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x5:1
# text = There is a deficiency of 20 chairs for the concert.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a deficiency of 20 chairs for the concert |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eating many kinds of food helps prevent deficiencies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x6:1
# text = Eating many kinds of food helps prevent deficiencies.
1	Eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	prevent	prevent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
8	deficiencies	deficiency	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  | many kinds of food |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | present | Eating |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **prevent** | infinitive | Eating *not said here* | deficiencies |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer deficiency=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poor Jason was greatly abashed, and made up his mind that the people of Iolchos were exceedingly ill-bred, to take such public notice of an accidental deficiency in his dress.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficiency:x7:1
# text = Poor Jason was greatly abashed, and made up his mind that the people of Iolchos were exceedingly ill-bred, to take such public notice of an accidental deficiency in his dress.
1	Poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Jason	Jason	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	greatly	greatly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	abashed	abash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Iolchos	Iolchos	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
17	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux:pass	_	_
18	exceedingly	exceedingly	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
19	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	bred	breed	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
25	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
26	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	notice	notice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
28	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
29	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	accidental	accidental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	amod	_	_
31	deficiency	deficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod	_	_
32	in	in	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
33	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	34	nmod:poss	_	_
34	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abash** | past · passive |  | Poor Jason |  |  |  | greatly *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **make up** | participle |  | Jason's mind |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme mind=Pivot |
| 3 | **breed** | past · passive |  | the people of Iolchos |  |  |  | exceedingly *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | such public notice of a accidental deficiency |  | Jason's dress |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent notice=Value in dress=Location |
| 5 | **mind** |  | Jason |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |
| 6 | **notice** |  |  | a accidental deficiency |  |  |  |  | nom notice «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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