---
title: harmless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «harmless» in the school dictionary: Harmless means not able to hurt or damage anyone or anything. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# harmless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Harmless, spider, It, everyone, Most bacteria, grass snake · **What happens:** mean, hurt, damage, not mean, upset, be · **To what, where:** anyone, harmless fun, you, someone, water

<!-- .vabout -->
«harmless» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [harmless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/harmless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harmless means not able to hurt or damage anyone or anything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:m1:1
# text = Harmless means not able to hurt or damage anyone or anything.
1	Harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Harmless |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hurt** | to-infinitive | Harmless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **damage** | infinitive | Harmless *not said here* | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Harmless can mean not meant to upset anyone: harmless fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:m2:1
# text = Harmless can mean not meant to upset anyone: harmless fun.
1	Harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Harmless | harmless fun |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **mean** | participle | Harmless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **upset** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Harmless *not said here* | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus anyone=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That spider is harmless; it won't hurt you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x1:1
# text = That spider is harmless; it won't hurt you.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | that spider |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **hurt** | future | spider | you |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was just harmless fun, and everyone laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x2:1
# text = It was just harmless fun, and everyone laughed.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
9	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | harmless fun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most bacteria are harmless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x3:1
# text = Most bacteria are harmless.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Most bacteria |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A grass snake is harmless to people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x4:1
# text = A grass snake is harmless to people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a grass snake |  |  |  |  | to people; harmless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some berries look harmless but are poisonous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x5:1
# text = Some berries look harmless but are poisonous.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	berries	berry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | some berries |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | some berries *not said here* |  |  |  |  | poisonous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog looks fierce but it's really harmless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x6:1
# text = The dog looks fierce but it's really harmless.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	really	really	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the dog |  |  |  |  | fierce *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | dog |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A joke isn't harmless if it makes someone cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x7:1
# text = A joke isn't harmless if it makes someone cry.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firework fell harmlessly into the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x8:1
# text = The firework fell harmlessly into the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firework	firework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	harmlessly	harmlessly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | the firework |  |  |  |  | into the water *result*; harmlessly *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into water=Result |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There she is as harmless as a lamb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harmless:x9:1
# text = There she is as harmless as a lamb.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
2	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | she |  |  | there |  | as a lamb; harmless *property* | tree rules |

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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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