---
title: downsize — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «downsize» in the school dictionary: To make a company smaller by cutting the number of workers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# downsize

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, downsizing, people, company, 50 workers, workers · **What happens:** make, cut, move, use, save, downsize · **To what, where:** company, number, smaller house, something, money, soft way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«downsize» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [downsize in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/downsize.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a company smaller by cutting the number of workers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:m1:1
# text = To make a company smaller by cutting the number of workers.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a company |  |  |  | small *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset company=Product |
| 2 | **cut** | gerund |  | the number of workers |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset number=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
To move to a smaller house or use something smaller, often to save money.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:m2:1
# text = To move to a smaller house or use something smaller, often to save money.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	save	save	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
15	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a smaller house |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to house=Trajectory |
| 2 | **use** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | small *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 3 | **save** | to-infinitive |  | money |  |  |  | often *property* | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«We are downsizing» can be a soft way of saying people are losing their jobs.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:m3:1
# text = «We are downsizing» can be a soft way of saying people are losing their jobs.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	downsizing	downsize	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	nsubj	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** *in a quote* | present · progressive | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | can | downsizing | a soft way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **lose** | present · progressive |  | people's jobs |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 5 | **job** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company downsized and 50 workers lost their jobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x1:1
# text = The company downsized and 50 workers lost their jobs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	downsized	downsize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | past | the company |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | 50 workers | workers's jobs |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **job** |  | workers *= worker* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma downsized to a small flat near us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x2:1
# text = Grandma downsized to a small flat near us.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	downsized	downsize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	flat	flat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	near	near	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  | to a small flat; near us | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We downsized to a smaller car to save petrol.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x3:1
# text = We downsized to a smaller car to save petrol.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	downsized	downsize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	petrol	petrol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | past | We |  |  |  |  | to a smaller car | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | petrol |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent petrol=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad was let go when his firm downsized.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x4:1
# text = Dad was let go when his firm downsized.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	firm	firm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	downsized	downsize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | past · passive |  | Dad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **downsize** | past | his firm |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the kids left home, they decided to downsize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x5:1
# text = After the kids left home, they decided to downsize.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	decided	decide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	downsize	downsize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the kids |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **decide** | past | kids *= kid* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **downsize** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | kids *= kid* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a firm of 200 downsizes by a quarter, 150 workers are left.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsize:x6:1
# text = If a firm of 200 downsizes by a quarter, 150 workers are left.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	firm	firm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	_
6	downsizes	downsize	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	quarter	quarter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
11	150	150	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a firm of 200 |  |  |  |  | by a quarter | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | present · passive |  | 150 workers |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=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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