---
title: naught — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «naught» in the school dictionary: Nothing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# naught

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** number, naught, lazy person, hard work, rain, their · **What happens:** write, be, not do, come, wash away, work · **To what, where:** nought, lazy person, anything, naught, sandcastle, wizard · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old-fashioned, literary — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:m1:1
# text = Nothing.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zero, the number 0 (UK and others usually write "nought").

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:m2:1
# text = Zero, the number 0 (UK and others usually write "nought").
1	Zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
5	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	flat	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	nought	nought	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present | the number *not said here* | nought |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nought=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good-for-naught is a lazy or useless person who never does anything good.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:m3:1
# text = A good-for-naught is a lazy or useless person who never does anything good.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	12	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	lazy	lazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
14	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	_
17	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | naught | a lazy person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | a lazy person | anything |  |  |  | good *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All their hard work came to naught when the rain washed the sandcastle away.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x1:1
# text = All their hard work came to naught when the rain washed the sandcastle away.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
2	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	5	obl	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	washed	wash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sandcastle	sandcastle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | their hard work |  |  | naught |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to naught=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **wash away** | past | the rain | the sandcastle |  |  |  | away *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sandcastle=Patient |
| 3 | **work** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight's quest was all for naught.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x2:1
# text = The knight's quest was all for naught.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	quest	quest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	all	all	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the knight's quest |  |  |  |  | for naught; all *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **quest** |  | the knight |  |  |  |  |  | nom quest «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It is naught but a bad dream," said the wizard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x3:1
# text = "It is naught but a bad dream," said the wizard.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	11	nsubj	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | It | naught |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | naught | the wizard |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent wizard=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Their plans came to naught.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x4:1
# text = Their plans came to naught.
1	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Their plans |  |  | naught |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to naught=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **plan** |  | Their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without water, the seeds will grow to naught.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x5:1
# text = Without water, the seeds will grow to naught.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | future | the seeds |  |  |  |  | without water; to naught | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He cared naught for gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x6:1
# text = He cared naught for gold.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cared	care	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **care** | past | He | naught |  |  |  | for gold | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The final score was two to naught. (US)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The final score was two to naught.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x7:1
# text = The final score was two to naught.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (US)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x7:2
# text = (US)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Alas!” said the young man, “her father is a wandering good-for-naught, who has forsaken wife and child, and gone off—who knows where?

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:naught:x8:1
# text = “Alas!” said the young man, “her father is a wandering good-for-naught, who has forsaken wife and child, and gone off—who knows where?
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
10	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
15	wandering	wonder	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	20	nsubj	_	_
16	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	naught	naught	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
23	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
24	forsaken	forsake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	20	acl	_	_
25	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
31	off	off	ADP	RP	_	30	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	34	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	34	nsubj	_	_
34	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
35	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	34	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | the young man |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wonder** *speech: ask* *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | her father |  |  |  |  | for naught | tree rules |
| 4 | **forsake** *in a quote* | present · perfect |  | wife and child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **go off** *in a quote* | participle | the young man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **know** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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 -->
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