---
title: futile — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «futile» in the school dictionary: Having no chance of success; useless, because it cannot change anything. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# futile

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chance, success, It, fly, Trying, search · **What happens:** have, not change, chance, be, argue, make · **To what, where:** chance, anything, futile attempts, window, storm, search · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having no chance of success; useless, because it cannot change anything.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:m1:1
# text = Having no chance of success; useless, because it cannot change anything.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
14	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | no chance of success |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chance=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **change** | can | chance | anything |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Patient |
| 3 | **chance** |  | success |  |  |  |  |  | nom chance «state intransitive»: of=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was futile to argue with the referee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x1:1
# text = It was futile to argue with the referee.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	argue	argue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | futile *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the referee | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with referee=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fly made futile attempts to get through the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x2:1
# text = The fly made futile attempts to get through the window.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fly	fly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	attempts	attempt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the fly | futile attempts |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attempt=Product |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | the fly *not said here* |  |  | the window |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme through window=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying to stay dry in that storm was futile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x3:1
# text = Trying to stay dry in that storm was futile.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **stay** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | that storm |  | dry *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in storm=Location |
| 3 | **is** | past | Trying |  |  |  |  | futile *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Their search for the lost ring seemed futile until the dog found it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x4:1
# text = Their search for the lost ring seemed futile until the dog found it.
1	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	search	search	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **seem** | past | Their search for the lost ring |  |  |  |  | futile *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **find** | past | the dog | search |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **search** |  | Their *= they* |  |  |  |  | for the lost ring | nom search «act transitive»: poss=agent for=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't think practice is futile; it does help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x5:1
# text = Don't think practice is futile; it does help.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **think** *speech: other* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | practice |  |  |  |  | futile *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **help** | present · do-support | practice |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made a futile effort to catch the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:futile:x6:1
# text = He made a futile effort to catch the bus.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	futile	futile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | a futile effort |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effort=Product |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=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 -->

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