---
title: idle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «idle» in the school dictionary: Not working or not being used, as in «the machines stood idle». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idle/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / idle

# idle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** car, time, you, tractor, me, It · **What happens:** not work, not use, stand, not want, work, run · **To what, where:** machines, nothing, engine, shed, me, idle chatter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«idle» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [idle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/idle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not working or not being used, as in «the machines stood idle».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:m1:1
# text = Not working or not being used, as in «the machines stood idle».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
13	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
14	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **use** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **stand** *in a quote* | past |  |  |  | the machines |  | idle *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in machine=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Lazy, not wanting to work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:m2:1
# text = Lazy, not wanting to work.
1	Lazy	lazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **work** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without a real reason or purpose, as in «idle chatter» or «an idle threat».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:m3:1
# text = Without a real reason or purpose, as in «idle chatter» or «an idle threat».
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	chatter	chatter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of an engine: to run slowly while the car is not moving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:m4:1
# text = Of an engine: to run slowly while the car is not moving.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	run	run	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of a engine; slowly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme of engine=Trajectory |
| 2 | **not** **move** | present · progressive | the car |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spend time doing nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:m5:1
# text = To spend time doing nothing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spend	spend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | time *not said here* | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't let the engine idle outside the school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x1:1
# text = Please don't let the engine idle outside the school.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
8	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the engine |  |  |  | idle *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent engine=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tractor sat idle in the shed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x2:1
# text = The tractor sat idle in the shed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tractor	tractor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shed	shed	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 | **sit** | past | the tractor |  |  | the shed |  | idle *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in shed=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be idle — help me tidy up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x3:1
# text = Don't be idle — help me tidy up.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | idle *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | infinitive | you *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **tidy up** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was just idle chatter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x4:1
# text = It was just idle chatter.
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	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	chatter	chatter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We idled away the afternoon in the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x5:1
# text = We idled away the afternoon in the garden.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	idled	idle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **idle away** | past | We |  |  | the garden | afternoon | away *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His threat was an idle one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x6:1
# text = His threat was an idle one.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	one	one	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 | His threat | a idle one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The computer goes to sleep when it is idle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x7:1
# text = The computer goes to sleep when it is idle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | the computer |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sleep** | to-infinitive | the computer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | computer |  |  |  |  | idle *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idle:x8:1
# text = As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle.
1	As	as	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
3	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	Alnaschar	Alnaschar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | our father |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Alnaschar |  |  |  |  | idle *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [idiotic](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiotic/)
- next →: [idleness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)