---
title: nothing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nothing» in the school dictionary: Nothing means not anything at all. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nothing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nothing, Five, I, You · **What happens:** not mean, mean, be, take away, leave, have · **To what, where:** anything, all, zero, nothing, shelf, pocket

<!-- .vabout -->
«nothing» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [nothing in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nothing.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing means not anything at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:m1:1
# text = Nothing means not anything at all.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	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	2	advmod	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	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 | **not** **mean** | present | Nothing | anything |  | all |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Topic |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is nothing in the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:m1e:1
# text = There is nothing in the box.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | nothing |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing can mean zero, no amount.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:m2:1
# text = Nothing can mean zero, no amount.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Nothing | zero |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zero=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Five take away five leaves nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:m2e:1
# text = Five take away five leaves nothing.
1	Five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nsubj	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nsubj	_	_
5	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
6	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take away** | present | Five |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **leave** | present | five | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«For nothing» means free, or with no result.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:m3:1
# text = «For nothing» means free, or with no result.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	For	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
11	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | nothing |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Student: nothing

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x1:1
# text = Student: nothing
1	Student	student	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	1	conj	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the sale there was nothing left on the shelf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x2:1
# text = After the sale there was nothing left on the shelf.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sale	sale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	nsubj	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | nothing |  |  | there | after the sale |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  |  |  | the shelf |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent on shelf=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Five take away five leaves nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x3:1
# text = Five take away five leaves nothing.
1	Five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nsubj	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nsubj	_	_
5	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
6	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take away** | present | Five |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **leave** | present | five | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is nothing in my pocket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x4:1
# text = There is nothing in my pocket.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | nothing |  |  | my pocket; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pocket=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have nothing to do; I'm bored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x5:1
# text = I have nothing to do; I'm bored.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | nothing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | bored *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«What's wrong?» «Nothing.»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «What's wrong?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x6:1
# text = «What's wrong?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «Nothing.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x6:2
# text = «Nothing.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You get this sticker for nothing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x7:1
# text = You get this sticker for nothing.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	sticker	sticker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | You | this sticker |  |  |  | for nothing | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sticker=Theme for nothing=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing can stop us now!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x8:1
# text = Nothing can stop us now!
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | can | Nothing | us |  |  | now |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality we=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's nothing the matter with me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nothing:x9:1
# text = There's nothing the matter with me.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | nothing |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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