---
title: difficult — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «difficult» in the school dictionary: Hard to do, understand or deal with; needing a lot of effort or skill. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# difficult

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, puzzle, I, last question, It, toddler · **What happens:** understand, deal, need, please, get on, be · **To what, where:** lot, it, difficult time, mountain · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard to do, understand or deal with; needing a lot of effort or skill.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:m1:1
# text = Hard to do, understand or deal with; needing a lot of effort or skill.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	deal	deal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	needing	need	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **deal** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **need** | gerund | you *not said here* | a lot of effort or skill |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot lot=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 -->
Full of problems or worries (a difficult time).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:m2:1
# text = Full of problems or worries (a difficult time).
1	Full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worries	worry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a person — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not easy to please or get on with; unhelpful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:m3:1
# text = Not easy to please or get on with; unhelpful.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	on	on	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	unhelpful	unhelpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **please** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **get on** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This puzzle is very difficult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x1:1
# text = This puzzle is very difficult.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	difficult	difficult	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** | present | this puzzle |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I find it difficult to wake up early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x2:1
# text = I find it difficult to wake up early.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	wake	wake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present | I | it |  |  |  | difficult *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 2 | **wake up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The last question was the most difficult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x3:1
# text = The last question was the most difficult.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	_
7	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a difficult time for the family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x4:1
# text = It was a difficult time for the family.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a difficult time |  |  |  | for the family | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toddler is being difficult today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x5:1
# text = The toddler is being difficult today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the toddler |  |  |  | today | difficult *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's difficult to say who will win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x6:1
# text = It's difficult to say who will win.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **win** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Climbing the mountain was difficult but fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x7:1
# text = Climbing the mountain was difficult but fun.
1	Climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | gerund |  | the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Climbing |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Climbing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its dialect renders it somewhat difficult to read.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficult:x8:1
# text = Its dialect renders it somewhat difficult to read.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dialect	dialect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	renders	render	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	somewhat	somewhat	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **render** | present | Its dialect | it |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **read** | to-infinitive | Its dialect *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=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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