---
title: delinquent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «delinquent» in the school dictionary: A delinquent, or juvenile delinquent, is a young person who keeps breaking the law or behaving badly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# delinquent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** delinquent, young person, behaviour behaviour, delinquent bill, police, young delinquents · **What happens:** be, keep, break, behave, not pay, catch · **To what, where:** young person, law, behaviour behaviour, laws, one, that · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«delinquent» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [delinquent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/delinquent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A delinquent, or juvenile delinquent, is a young person who keeps breaking the law or behaving badly.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:m1:1
# text = A delinquent, or juvenile delinquent, is a young person who keeps breaking the law or behaving badly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	delinquent	delinquent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	juvenile	juvenile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	delinquent	delinquent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	xcomp	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	behaving	behave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	conj	_	_
19	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a delinquent or juvenile delinquent | a young person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | a young person |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | gerund | a young person *not said here* | the law |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer law=Patient |
| 4 | **behave** | gerund | a young person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Delinquent behaviour is behaviour that breaks laws or rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:m2:1
# text = Delinquent behaviour is behaviour that breaks laws or rules.
1	Delinquent	delinquent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | behaviour behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | present | behaviour behaviour | laws or rules |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer law=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, mainly US — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A delinquent bill or account is one that has not been paid on time.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:m3:1
# text = A delinquent bill or account is one that has not been paid on time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	delinquent	delinquent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bill	bill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a delinquent bill or account | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **pay** | present · perfect · passive |  | that |  |  | time |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police caught the young delinquents spraying paint on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x1:1
# text = The police caught the young delinquents spraying paint on the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	delinquents	delinquent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	spraying	spray	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the police | the young delinquents |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent delinquent=Theme |
| 2 | **spray** | gerund | the young delinquents *not said here* | paint |  | the wall |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent paint=Theme on wall=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story is about a delinquent who turns his life around.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x2:1
# text = The story is about a delinquent who turns his life around.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	delinquent	delinquent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	around	around	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the story |  |  |  |  | about a delinquent | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn around** | present | a delinquent | his life |  |  |  | around *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent life=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stealing cars is delinquent behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x3:1
# text = Stealing cars is delinquent behaviour.
1	Stealing	steal	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	delinquent	delinquent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | gerund |  | cars |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location car=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Stealing | delinquent behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bank sent a letter about the delinquent account.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x4:1
# text = The bank sent a letter about the delinquent account.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	delinquent	delinquent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the bank | a letter |  |  |  | about the delinquent account | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was called a juvenile delinquent, but he just needed help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x5:1
# text = He was called a juvenile delinquent, but he just needed help.
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	aux:pass	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	juvenile	juvenile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	delinquent	delinquent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **need** | past | he | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The delinquents were made to clean up the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x6:1
# text = The delinquents were made to clean up the park.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	delinquents	delinquent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the delinquents |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **clean up** | to-infinitive | the delinquents *not said here* | the park |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent park=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her tax payment was delinquent by three months.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delinquent:x7:1
# text = Her tax payment was delinquent by three months.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	tax	tax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	payment	payment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	delinquent	delinquent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her tax payment |  |  |  | month | delinquent *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom payment «possession transitive»: poss=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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