---
title: hopeless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hopeless» in the school dictionary: Without any hope; when there is no chance that things will get better. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hopeless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chance, I, game, we, lost sailors, brother · **What happens:** be, get, draw, deal, solve, look · **To what, where:** chance, maths, empty sea, secrets, hopeless tangle, someone

<!-- .vabout -->
«hopeless» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [hopeless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hopeless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without any hope; when there is no chance that things will get better.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:m1:1
# text = Without any hope; when there is no chance that things will get better.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	7	expl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
12	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	_
14	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | no chance |  |  |  | without any hope | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | future | no chance |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Very bad at something: «I'm hopeless at drawing».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:m2:1
# text = Very bad at something: «I'm hopeless at drawing».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
10	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** *in a quote* | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Impossible to deal with or solve: «a hopeless mess».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:m3:1
# text = Impossible to deal with or solve: «a hopeless mess».
1	Impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **solve** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The game looked hopeless when we were five goals down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x1:1
# text = The game looked hopeless when we were five goals down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hopeless	hopeless	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	goals	goal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the game |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | we |  |  |  |  | five goals *obl:unmarked*; down *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm hopeless at maths, but I'm getting better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x2:1
# text = I'm hopeless at maths, but I'm getting better.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
11	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  | maths |  | hopeless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lost sailors felt hopeless on the empty sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x3:1
# text = The lost sailors felt hopeless on the empty sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	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 | **feel** | past | the lost sailors |  |  | the empty sea |  | hopeless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother is hopeless at keeping secrets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x4:1
# text = My brother is hopeless at keeping secrets.
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	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My brother |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | gerund | My brother *not said here* | secrets |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knot was a hopeless tangle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x5:1
# text = The knot was a hopeless tangle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knot	knot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tangle	tangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the knot | a hopeless tangle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never feel hopeless; ask someone for help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x6:1
# text = Never feel hopeless; ask someone for help.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	feel	feel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **feel** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | someone |  |  | for help | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is hopeless at remembering birthdays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x7:1
# text = Dad is hopeless at remembering birthdays.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	remembering	remember	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	birthdays	birthday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dad |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **remember** | gerund | Dad *not said here* | birthdays |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent birthday=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of course he felt quite hopeless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hopeless:x8:1
# text = Of course he felt quite hopeless.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | he |  |  |  |  | of course; hopeless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

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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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