---
title: downsizing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «downsizing» in the school dictionary: Downsizing is when a company makes itself smaller by cutting jobs; workers lose their jobs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# downsizing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Downsizing, workers, children, Companies, softer word, 50 people · **What happens:** be, cut, lose, job, move, have · **To what, where:** jobs, smaller house, fewer things, downsizing, workers, children · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Downsizing is when a company makes itself smaller by cutting jobs; workers lose their jobs.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:m1:1
# text = Downsizing is when a company makes itself smaller by cutting jobs; workers lose their jobs.
1	Downsizing	downsizing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Downsizing |  |  |  |  | make, small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cut** | gerund | Downsizing *not said here* | jobs |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset job=Product |
| 3 | **lose** | present | workers | workers's jobs |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 4 | **job** |  | workers *= worker* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Downsizing is moving to a smaller house or having fewer things, often when children have grown up.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:m2:1
# text = Downsizing is moving to a smaller house or having fewer things, often when children have grown up.
1	Downsizing	downsizing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
10	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
15	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
18	up	up	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present · progressive | Downsizing |  |  | a smaller house |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to house=Trajectory |
| 2 | **have** | gerund | Downsizing *not said here* | fewer things |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 3 | **grow up** | present · perfect | children |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Companies say "downsizing" as a softer word for sacking workers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:m3:1
# text = Companies say "downsizing" as a softer word for sacking workers.
1	Companies	company	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	downsizing	downsizing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	softer	soft	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sacking	sack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
12	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Companies | downsizing |  |  |  | as a softer word | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent downsizing=Topic |
| 2 | **sack** | gerund | a softer word *not said here* | workers |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent worker=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The factory's downsizing meant 50 people lost their jobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x1:1
# text = The factory's downsizing meant 50 people lost their jobs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	downsizing	downsizing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | the factory's downsizing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lose** | past | 50 people | people's jobs |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **job** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the children left home, my grandparents downsized to a bungalow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x2:1
# text = After the children left home, my grandparents downsized to a bungalow.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
4	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	grandparents	grandparent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	downsized	downsize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bungalow	bungalow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | participle |  | the children *not said here* |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **downsize** | past | my grandparents |  |  |  | after the children | to a bungalow | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company called it downsizing, but Dad was let go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x3:1
# text = The company called it downsizing, but Dad was let go.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	downsizing	downsize	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	let	let	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
11	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | the company | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **downsize** | gerund | the company *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **let** | past · passive |  | Dad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **go** | infinitive | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Downsizing a team can make the others work harder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x4:1
# text = Downsizing a team can make the others work harder.
1	Downsizing	downsize	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	harder	hard	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | gerund |  | a team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | can | Downsizing |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | present | the others |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are downsizing our toy collection and giving some away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x5:1
# text = We are downsizing our toy collection and giving some away.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	downsizing	downsize	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	collection	collection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | present · progressive | We | our toy collection |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give away** | gerund | We *not said here* | some |  |  |  | away *property* | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent some=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop is downsizing to a smaller building.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:downsizing:x6:1
# text = The shop is downsizing to a smaller building.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	downsizing	downsize	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **downsize** | present · progressive | the shop |  |  |  |  | to a smaller building | tree rules |

<!-- 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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