---
title: desperate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «desperate» in the school dictionary: Feeling that you have little hope and will do anything to change the situation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# desperate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, success, Desperate, lost hikers, I, They · **What happens:** feel, have, do, change, want, need · **To what, where:** little hope, anything, situation, something, desperate attempt, toilet · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«desperate» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [desperate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desperate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feeling that you have little hope and will do anything to change the situation.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:m1:1
# text = Feeling that you have little hope and will do anything to change the situation.
1	Feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
10	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | little hope |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | future | you *not said here* | anything |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Eventuality |
| 4 | **change** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the situation |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent situation=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 -->
Wanting or needing something very much: «desperate for a drink».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:m2:1
# text = Wanting or needing something very much: «desperate for a drink».
1	Wanting	want	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	needing	need	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	much	much	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **need** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very serious or dangerous: «a desperate situation».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:m3:1
# text = Very serious or dangerous: «a desperate situation».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Done as a last try with little chance of success: «a desperate attempt».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:m4:1
# text = Done as a last try with little chance of success: «a desperate attempt».
1	Done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	try	try	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  | a desperate attempt |  |  |  | as a last try with little chance of success | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **chance** |  | success |  |  |  |  |  | nom chance «state intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Desperate for the loo» means needing the toilet very badly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:m5:1
# text = «Desperate for the loo» means needing the toilet very badly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	loo	loo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	needing	need	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Desperate |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **need** *not said to happen* | gerund | Desperate *not said here* | the toilet |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot toilet=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lost hikers were desperate for water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x1:1
# text = The lost hikers were desperate for water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	hikers	hiker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the lost hikers |  |  |  |  | for water; desperate *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm desperate to see the new film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x2:1
# text = I'm desperate to see the new film.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | desperate *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the new film |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer film=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They made a desperate attempt to save the goal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x3:1
# text = They made a desperate attempt to save the goal.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | They | a desperate attempt |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset attempt=Product |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the goal |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family was in desperate need of food and shelter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x4:1
# text = The family was in desperate need of food and shelter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the family |  |  | desperate need |  | of food and shelter | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) Stop the car, I'm desperate for the loo!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x5:1
# text = (informal) Stop the car, I'm desperate for the loo!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	loo	loo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* | the car |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality car=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | for the loo; desperate *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Desperate times call for desperate measures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x6:1
# text = Desperate times call for desperate measures.
1	Desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	measures	measure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | Desperate times |  |  |  |  | for desperate measures | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for measure=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten gave a desperate cry from the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x7:1
# text = The kitten gave a desperate cry from the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	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	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tree	tree	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 | **give** | past | the kitten | a desperate cry |  | the tree |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cry=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her case, on the contrary, looked more desperate than ever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperate:x8:1
# text = Her case, on the contrary, looked more desperate than ever.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	contrary	contrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
10	desperate	desperate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | Her case |  |  |  |  | desperate *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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