---
title: fussy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fussy» in the school dictionary: A fussy person is hard to please and cares too much about small details. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fussy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fussy person, fussy eater, fussy baby, brother, he, Cats · **What happens:** be, please, care, like, describe, keep · **To what, where:** much, certain foods, something, fussy eater, peas, little bit

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fussy person is hard to please and cares too much about small details.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:m1:1
# text = A fussy person is hard to please and cares too much about small details.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	cares	care	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	obj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a fussy person |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **please** | to-infinitive | a fussy person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **care** | present | a fussy person *not said here* | much |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 fussy eater only likes certain foods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:m2:1
# text = A fussy eater only likes certain foods.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	eater	eater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	foods	food	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | a fussy eater | certain foods |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot food=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fussy can describe something with too many decorations or details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:m3:1
# text = Fussy can describe something with too many decorations or details.
1	Fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	decorations	decoration	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | something |  |  |  | with many decorations or details | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fussy baby is cranky and keeps crying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:m4:1
# text = A fussy baby is cranky and keeps crying.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	cranky	cranky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a fussy baby |  |  |  |  | cranky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | a fussy baby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund | a fussy baby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother is a fussy eater; he won't eat peas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x1:1
# text = My brother is a fussy eater; he won't eat peas.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	eater	eater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
12	peas	pea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My brother | a fussy eater |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **eat** | future | he | peas |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pea=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cats can be fussy about their food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x2:1
# text = Cats can be fussy about their food.
1	Cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Cats |  |  |  |  | about Cats's food; fussy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm not fussy; any colour is fine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x3:1
# text = I'm not fussy; any colour is fine.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | fussy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | any colour |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby was fussy because she was tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x4:1
# text = The baby was fussy because she was tired.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  | fussy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is fussy about clean shoes in the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x5:1
# text = Grandma is fussy about clean shoes in the house.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Grandma |  |  |  |  | about clean shoes in the house; fussy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wallpaper is too fussy with all those flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x6:1
# text = The wallpaper is too fussy with all those flowers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wallpaper	wallpaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	9	det:predet	_	_
8	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the wallpaper |  |  |  |  | with all flowers; fussy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be fussy; try a little bit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fussy:x7:1
# text = Don't be fussy; try a little bit.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	fussy	fussy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | fussy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **try** | infinitive |  | a little bit |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bit=Eventuality |

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**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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