---
title: needless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «needless» in the school dictionary: Not necessary, and often causing harm or waste that could have been avoided: «needless suffering». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# needless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Needless, you, it, we, Wearing, fight · **What happens:** cause, avoid, say, mean, expect, be · **To what, where:** harm, lights, helmet, needless injuries, needless pain, good food · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not necessary, and often causing harm or waste that could have been avoided: «needless suffering».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:m1:1
# text = Not necessary, and often causing harm or waste that could have been avoided: «needless suffering».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	necessary	necessary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
7	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
12	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	avoided	avoid	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | gerund |  | harm or waste |  |  |  | often *property* | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition harm=Patient |
| 2 | **avoid** | could · perfect · passive |  | harm or waste |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: subject=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 -->
«Needless to say» means «as you would expect» or «it is obvious that…».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:m2:1
# text = «Needless to say» means «as you would expect» or «it is obvious that…».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	expect	expect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	obvious	obvious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
18	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	…	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Needless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Needless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **expect** *in a quote* | would | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  | obvious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was needless to leave the lights on all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x1:1
# text = It was needless to leave the lights on all night.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | needless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive |  | the lights |  |  | night |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent light=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Needless to say, we were very hungry after the long walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x2:1
# text = Needless to say, we were very hungry after the long walk.
1	Needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | we |  |  |  | after the long walk | hungry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wearing a helmet prevents needless injuries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x3:1
# text = Wearing a helmet prevents needless injuries.
1	Wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	prevents	prevent	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	injuries	injury	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | gerund |  | a helmet |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |
| 2 | **prevent** | present | Wearing | needless injuries |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer injury=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fight caused needless pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x4:1
# text = The fight caused needless pain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pain	pain	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 | **cause** | past | the fight | needless pain |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition pain=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He worried needlessly; the test was easy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x5:1
# text = He worried needlessly; the test was easy.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worried	worry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	needlessly	needlessly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | past | He |  |  |  |  | needlessly *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | past | the test |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Throwing away good food is a needless waste.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x6:1
# text = Throwing away good food is a needless waste.
1	Throwing	throw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw away** | gerund |  | good food |  |  |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Throwing | a needless waste |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is needless to say what the dragons were like, for nowadays everyone knows, and dragons are not things to joke about.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:needless:x7:1
# text = It is needless to say what the dragons were like, for nowadays everyone knows, and dragons are not things to joke about.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	needless	needless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dragons	dragon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	nowadays	nowadays	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	15	nsubj	_	_
15	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	dragons	dragon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
21	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	joke	joke	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	acl	_	_
24	about	about	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | needless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 3 | **know** | present | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **not** **is a** | present | dragons | things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **joke** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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