---
title: insufficient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «insufficient» in the school dictionary: Insufficient means not enough; less than what is needed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# insufficient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Insufficient, insufficient water, bank, insufficient funds, police, answer · **What happens:** mean, need, use, not meet, be, say · **To what, where:** enough, effort, insufficient evidence, insufficient detail, you, vessel · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insufficient means not enough; less than what is needed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:m1:1
# text = Insufficient means not enough; less than what is needed.
1	Insufficient	Insufficient	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	parataxis	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nmod	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Insufficient | enough |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=Topic |
| 2 | **need** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF» |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used about evidence, money, time or effort that does not meet a need.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:m2:1
# text = Used about evidence, money, time or effort that does not meet a need.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obj	_	_
11	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	meet	meet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | about evidence and money and time or effort | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **meet** | present · do-support |  | effort |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was insufficient water for all the plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x1:1
# text = There was insufficient water for all the plants.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | insufficient water |  |  | there |  | for all plants | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bank said there were insufficient funds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x2:1
# text = The bank said there were insufficient funds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	funds	fund	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the bank |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past | insufficient funds |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police had insufficient evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x3:1
# text = The police had insufficient evidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the police | insufficient evidence |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent evidence=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The answer gave insufficient detail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x4:1
# text = The answer gave insufficient detail.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	detail	detail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the answer | insufficient detail |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent detail=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insufficient sleep can make you tired and grumpy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x5:1
# text = Insufficient sleep can make you tired and grumpy.
1	Insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	grumpy	grumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Insufficient sleep | you |  |  |  | tired *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset you=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were insufficient chairs for everyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x6:1
# text = There were insufficient chairs for everyone.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | insufficient chairs for everyone |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vessel, you must understand, was so long, and broad, and ponderous, that the united force of all the fifty was insufficient to shove her into the water.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insufficient:x7:1
# text = The vessel, you must understand, was so long, and broad, and ponderous, that the united force of all the fifty was insufficient to shove her into the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vessel	vessel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	broad	broad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	ponderous	ponderous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
18	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	united	united	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	25	det:predet	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	fifty	fifty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	21	nmod	_	_
26	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
27	insufficient	insufficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	shove	shove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	obj	_	_
31	into	into	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | must | you | the vessel *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer vessel=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | the vessel |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | the vessel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | the vessel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | past | the united force of all fifty |  |  |  |  | insufficient *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **shove** | to-infinitive | the united force of all fifty *not said here* | her *= she* |  | the water |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent she=Theme into water=Destination |

<!-- 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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