---
title: painful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «painful» in the school dictionary: Painful means causing pain or hurting. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# painful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Painful, you, sprained ankle, bee sting, nurse, Saying · **What happens:** mean, cause, hurt, make, feel, watch · **To what, where:** pain, you, nurse, goodbye, dog, team · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«painful» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [painful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/painful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Painful means causing pain or hurting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:m1:1
# text = Painful means causing pain or hurting.
1	Painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Painful |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | Painful *not said here* | pain |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition pain=Patient |
| 3 | **hurt** | gerund | Painful *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Painful means making you feel sad, upset or embarrassed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:m2:1
# text = Painful means making you feel sad, upset or embarrassed.
1	Painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	embarrassed	embarrassed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Painful |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | gerund | Painful *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** *not said to happen* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Painful can mean very hard or slow to watch or do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:m3:1
# text = Painful can mean very hard or slow to watch or do.
1	Painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Painful |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive | Painful *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | Painful *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sprained ankle was very painful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x1:1
# text = My sprained ankle was very painful.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sprained	sprain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprain** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | My sprained ankle |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bee sting can be painful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x2:1
# text = A bee sting can be painful.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bee	bee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	sting	sting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | a bee sting |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell the nurse where it is painful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x3:1
# text = Tell the nurse where it is painful.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	7	advmod	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the nurse |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent nurse=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | nurse |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying goodbye to our dog was painful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x4:1
# text = Saying goodbye to our dog was painful.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	csubj	_	_
2	goodbye	goodbye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | goodbye | our dog |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent goodbye=Topic to dog=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | past | Saying |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was painful to watch our team lose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x5:1
# text = It was painful to watch our team lose.
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	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive |  | our team |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent team=Theme |
| 3 | **lose** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The splinter was small but painful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x6:1
# text = The splinter was small but painful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	splinter	splinter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the splinter |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the splinter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scene of past sufferings revives painful memories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:painful:x7:1
# text = The scene of past sufferings revives painful memories.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sufferings	suffering	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	revives	revive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	memories	memory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **revive** | present | the scene of past sufferings | painful memories |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent memory=Patient |

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**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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