---
title: fussiness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fussiness» in the school dictionary: Being hard to please, especially about food, clothes or how things are done. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fussiness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, fussiness, group, teacher, poster, him · **What happens:** be, please, do, worry, have, look · **To what, where:** food, things, much, much decoration, Mum, one brand · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«fussiness» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [fussiness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fussiness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being hard to please, especially about food, clothes or how things are done.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:m1:1
# text = Being hard to please, especially about food, clothes or how things are done.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
13	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **please** | to-infinitive |  | food and clothes |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus food=Experiencer |
| 3 | **do** | present · passive |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Worrying too much about small details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:m2:1
# text = Worrying too much about small details.
1	Worrying	worry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | gerund |  | much |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus much=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having too much decoration, so something looks busy and fiddly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:m3:1
# text = Having too much decoration, so something looks busy and fiddly.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	decoration	decoration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	fiddly	fiddly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | much decoration |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decoration=Patient |
| 2 | **look** | present | something |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother's fussiness about food drives Mum mad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x1:1
# text = My little brother's fussiness about food drives Mum mad.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	drives	drive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	mad	mad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drive** | present | My little brother's fussiness about food | Mum |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mum=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat's fussiness means it only eats one brand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x2:1
# text = The cat's fussiness means it only eats one brand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	brand	brand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the cat's fussiness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **eat** | present | fussiness | one brand |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brand=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her fussiness about tidy desks helps our group stay organised.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x3:1
# text = Her fussiness about tidy desks helps our group stay organised.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	tidy	tidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	desks	desk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	organised	organised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Her fussiness about tidy desks | our group |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent group=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** | infinitive | our group *not said here* |  |  |  |  | organised *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said the poster had too much fussiness and needed fewer colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x4:1
# text = The teacher said the poster had too much fussiness and needed fewer colours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	poster	poster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | past | the poster | much fussiness |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fussiness=Patient |
| 3 | **need** | past | the poster *not said here* | fewer colours |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot colour=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's fussiness over the car makes him wash it every Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x5:1
# text = Dad's fussiness over the car makes him wash it every Sunday.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	wash	wash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Dad's fussiness over the car | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wash** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | fussiness |  |  | sunday |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fussiness at dinner can mean missing out on new tastes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x6:1
# text = Fussiness at dinner can mean missing out on new tastes.
1	Fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	missing	miss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	xcomp	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	tastes	taste	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Fussiness at dinner |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **miss out** *not said to happen* | gerund | Fussiness at dinner *not said here* |  |  | new tastes |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa laughs at his own fussiness about the remote control.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussiness:x7:1
# text = Grandpa laughs at his own fussiness about the remote control.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	laughs	laugh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fussiness	fussiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	remote	remote	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | present | Grandpa |  |  | Grandpa's own fussiness about the remote control |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «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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