---
title: deficient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deficient» in the school dictionary: Not having enough of something that is needed, especially in the body or diet: «deficient in iron». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deficient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** diet, she, Sailors, soil, plants, report · **What happens:** not have, need, have, be, feel, get · **To what, where:** enough, body, weaknesses, iron, food deficient, nitrogen · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not having enough of something that is needed, especially in the body or diet: «deficient in iron».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:m1:1
# text = Not having enough of something that is needed, especially in the body or diet: «deficient in iron».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	diet	diet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	deficient	deficient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | gerund |  | enough |  | the body or diet |  | deficient in iron *obl* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=Patient |
| 2 | **need** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not good enough; having weaknesses or faults: «deficient skills».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:m2:1
# text = Not good enough; having weaknesses or faults: «deficient skills».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
6	weaknesses	weakness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	faults	fault	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	deficient	deficient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	skills	skill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | weaknesses or faults |  |  |  | deficient skills *obl* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weakness=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her diet was deficient in iron, so she felt tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x1:1
# text = Her diet was deficient in iron, so she felt tired.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	diet	diet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her diet |  |  | iron |  | deficient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | past | she |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors long ago got ill from food deficient in vitamin C.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x2:1
# text = Sailors long ago got ill from food deficient in vitamin C.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
3	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	deficient	deficient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	vitamin	vitamin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	C.	c.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | Sailors |  |  | food deficient in vitamin C. |  | ago, ill *property* | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme from deficient=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soil is deficient in nitrogen, so the plants are yellow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x3:1
# text = The soil is deficient in nitrogen, so the plants are yellow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nitrogen	nitrogen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the soil |  |  | nitrogen |  | deficient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the plants |  |  |  |  | yellow *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report found the old bridge was deficient and unsafe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x4:1
# text = The report found the old bridge was deficient and unsafe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the report |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the old bridge |  |  |  |  | deficient *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | the old bridge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was deficient in sleep after the long trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x5:1
# text = He was deficient in sleep after the long trip.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	trip	trip	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 | **is** | past | He |  |  | sleep | after the long trip | deficient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The candidate's answer was deficient in detail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x6:1
# text = (formal) The candidate's answer was deficient in detail.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	candidate	candidate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	detail	detail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the candidate's answer |  |  | detail |  | deficient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** |  | the candidate |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Russian peasant is by no means deficient in humor, a fact of which the Skazkas offer abundant evidence.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deficient:x7:1
# text = The Russian peasant is by no means deficient in humor, a fact of which the Skazkas offer abundant evidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Russian	Russian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	peasant	peasant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	obl	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	deficient	deficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	humor	humor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nmod	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	Skazkas	Skazkas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	offer	offer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
19	abundant	abundant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Russian peasant |  |  |  |  | by no; a fact *obl*; deficient, mean *property* | 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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