---
title: desperately — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «desperately» in the school dictionary: Very much, so much it hurts: she desperately wanted a puppy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# desperately

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, she, things, little hope, hope, they · **What happens:** hurt, want, be, swim, need, cling · **To what, where:** puppy, wild way, drink, kitten, Wild Wood, motor car

<!-- .vabout -->
«desperately» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [desperately in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desperately.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very much, so much it hurts: she desperately wanted a puppy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:m1:1
# text = Very much, so much it hurts: she desperately wanted a puppy.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP-PRO-ARB»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **want** | past | she | a puppy |  |  |  | desperately *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot puppy=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 -->
In a wild way, because things are bad and there is little hope: he swam desperately for the shore.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:m2:1
# text = In a wild way, because things are bad and there is little hope: he swam desperately for the shore.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	12	expl	_	_
12	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
18	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | things |  |  | a wild way |  | bad *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | present | little hope |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **swim** | past | hope |  |  |  |  | for the shore; desperately *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Extremely, very badly: they were desperately poor; it was desperately cold.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:m3:1
# text = Extremely, very badly: they were desperately poor; it was desperately cold.
1	Extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | they |  |  |  |  | desperately, extremely, poor *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | it |  |  |  |  | cold, desperately *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I desperately need a drink of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x1:1
# text = I desperately need a drink of water.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | I | a drink of water |  |  |  | desperately *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot drink=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten clung desperately to the branch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x2:1
# text = The kitten clung desperately to the branch.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	clung	cling	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cling** | participle |  | the kitten *not said here* |  |  |  | to the branch; desperately *property* | vn cling-22.5 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme to branch=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole ran desperately through the Wild Wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x3:1
# text = Mole ran desperately through the Wild Wood.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Wild	Wild	PROPN	NNP	_	7	flat	_	_
7	Wood	Wood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | Mole |  |  | the Wild Wood |  | desperately *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through wood=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She desperately wanted to win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x4:1
# text = She desperately wanted to win.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | She |  |  |  |  | desperately *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **win** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family were desperately poor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x5:1
# text = The family were desperately poor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the family |  |  |  |  | desperately, poor *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He looked around desperately for his mum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x6:1
# text = He looked around desperately for his mum.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look around** | past | He |  |  |  |  | for his mum; around, desperately *property* | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for mum=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad desperately wanted a motor car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x7:1
# text = Toad desperately wanted a motor car.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	wanted	want	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	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | Toad | a motor car |  |  |  | desperately *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot car=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were desperately tired after the hike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x8:1
# text = We were desperately tired after the hike.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hike	hike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | We |  |  |  | after the hike | desperately, tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desperately:x9:1
# text = And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	desperately	desperately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  | with Pinocchio's arms and Pinocchio's body and Pinocchio's legs and Pinocchio's feet; desperately *property* | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with arm=Theme |

<!-- 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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