---
title: lack — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lack» in the school dictionary: To lack means not to have something, or not to have enough of it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lack

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lack, He, team, class, she, plants · **What happens:** lack, mean, not have, buy, have, die · **To what, where:** something, enough, lack, sleep, water, book · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To lack means not to have something, or not to have enough of it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:m1:1
# text = To lack means not to have something, or not to have enough of it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lack	lack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
13	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **have** | to-infinitive |  | enough of it |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enough=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 -->
A lack is not having enough: a lack of sleep, a lack of water.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:m2:1
# text = A lack is not having enough: a lack of sleep, a lack of water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · progressive | a lack | a lack of sleep and a lack of water |  |  |  | enough *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | sleep |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |
| 3 | **lack** |  |  | water |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He lacks $3 to buy the book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x1:1
# text = He lacks $3 to buy the book.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lacks	lack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	$	$	SYM	$	_	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the book |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team lacks 2 players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x2:1
# text = The team lacks 2 players.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lacks	lack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | present | the team | 2 players |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class lacks 5 chairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x3:1
# text = The class lacks 5 chairs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lacks	lack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | present | the class | 5 chairs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How much does she lack to have 50?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x4:1
# text = How much does she lack to have 50?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lack	lack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | present · do-support | she | much |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive | she *not said here* | 50 |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 50=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plants died from a lack of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x5:1
# text = The plants died from a lack of water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | the plants |  |  | a lack of water |  |  | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V PP.cause»: agent=Patient from lack=Causer |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | water |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lack of sleep makes it hard to think.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x6:1
# text = A lack of sleep makes it hard to think.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a lack of sleep | sleep |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | sleep *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lack** |  |  | sleep |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town lacks a swimming pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x7:1
# text = The town lacks a swimming pool.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lacks	lack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** | present | the town | a swimming pool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The game was stopped for lack of light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x8:1
# text = The game was stopped for lack of light.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	stopped	stop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past · passive |  | the game |  |  |  | for lack of light | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | light |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was no lack of society at our home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lack:x9:1
# text = There was no lack of society at our home.
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	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no lack of society at our home |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | society at our home |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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