---
title: helplessly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «helplessly» in the school dictionary: Without being able to help yourself or do anything about a situation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/helplessly/)

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# helplessly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, balloon, kitten, Toad, children, Alice · **What happens:** be, help, do, stop, laugh, watch · **To what, where:** yourself, anything, water, clown, Pool, weir · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«helplessly» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [helplessly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/helplessly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without being able to help yourself or do anything about a situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:m1:1
# text = Without being able to help yourself or do anything about a situation.
1	Without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  | anything |  |  |  | about a situation | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=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 -->
Without being able to stop, as in «laughed helplessly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:m2:1
# text = Without being able to stop, as in «laughed helplessly».
1	Without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **laugh** *in a quote* | past |  |  |  |  |  | helplessly *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched helplessly as the balloon floated away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x1:1
# text = We watched helplessly as the balloon floated away.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	floated	float	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We |  |  |  |  | helplessly *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **float away** | past | the balloon |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten mewed helplessly at the top of the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x2:1
# text = The kitten mewed helplessly at the top of the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mewed	mew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mew** | past | the kitten |  |  |  |  | at the top of the tree; helplessly *property* | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at top=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad struggled helplessly in the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x3:1
# text = Toad struggled helplessly in the water.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	struggled	struggle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **struggle** | past | Toad |  |  | the water |  | helplessly *property* | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children laughed helplessly at the clown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x4:1
# text = The children laughed helplessly at the clown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clown	clown	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 | **laugh** | past | the children |  |  | the clown |  | helplessly *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice cried helplessly in the Pool of Tears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x5:1
# text = Alice cried helplessly in the Pool of Tears.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | Alice |  |  | the Pool of Tears |  | helplessly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pool=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boat drifted helplessly towards the weir.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x6:1
# text = The boat drifted helplessly towards the weir.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drifted	drift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	weir	weir	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 | **drift** | past | the boat |  |  | the weir |  | helplessly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme towards weir=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“I can’t either,” cried Pinocchio; and his laughter turned to tears as he stumbled about helplessly.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helplessly:x7:1
# text = “I can’t either,” cried Pinocchio; and his laughter turned to tears as he stumbled about helplessly.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
5	either	either	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
20	about	about	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	helplessly	helplessly	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **turn** | past | Pinocchio's laughter |  |  | tears |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to tear=Trajectory |
| 3 | **stumble** | past | laughter |  |  |  |  | helplessly *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=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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