---
title: difficulty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «difficulty» in the school dictionary: How hard something is to do or understand (the level of difficulty). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# difficulty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, thing, way, questions, I, difficulty · **What happens:** be, understand, deal, take, go up, have · **To what, where:** level, lot, difficulty, answer, tree, swimmer

<!-- .vabout -->
«difficulty» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [difficulty in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/difficulty.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How hard something is to do or understand (the level of difficulty).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:m1:1
# text = How hard something is to do or understand (the level of difficulty).
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | do *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | infinitive | something *not said here* | the level of difficulty |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer level=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
A problem or a thing that is hard to deal with.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:m2:1
# text = A problem or a thing that is hard to deal with.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a thing |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **deal** | to-infinitive | a thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trouble or worry, especially about money («in difficulty», «financial difficulties»).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:m3:1
# text = Trouble or worry, especially about money («in difficulty», «financial difficulties»).
1	Trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	financial	financial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	difficulties	difficulty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«With difficulty»: in a way that takes a lot of effort.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:m4:1
# text = «With difficulty»: in a way that takes a lot of effort.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
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	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | a way | a lot of effort |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The questions go up in difficulty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x1:1
# text = The questions go up in difficulty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go up** | present | the questions |  |  |  |  | in difficulty | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in difficulty=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had difficulty finding the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x2:1
# text = I had difficulty finding the answer.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	finding	find	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | difficulty |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent difficulty=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | gerund | difficulty *not said here* | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He climbed the tree with difficulty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x3:1
# text = He climbed the tree with difficulty.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | He | the tree |  |  |  | with difficulty | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location tree=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lifeguard helped a swimmer in difficulty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x4:1
# text = The lifeguard helped a swimmer in difficulty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	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	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the lifeguard | a swimmer |  | difficulty |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent swimmer=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family faced many difficulties.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x5:1
# text = The family faced many difficulties.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	difficulties	difficulty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | past | the family | many difficulties |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme difficulty=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She passed the test without difficulty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x6:1
# text = She passed the test without difficulty.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | past | She | the test |  |  |  | without difficulty | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme test=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The game has three difficulty levels: easy, medium and hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x7:1
# text = The game has three difficulty levels: easy, medium and hard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	levels	level	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	medium	medium	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the game | three difficulty levels |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent level=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The difficulty is which one to choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:difficulty:x8:1
# text = The difficulty is which one to choose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	5	det	_	_
5	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the difficulty | which one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: 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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