---
title: pathetic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pathetic» in the school dictionary: Very weak, useless or poor; not good enough: «That was a pathetic excuse.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pathetic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** That, you, pathetic excuse, team, we, lost puppy · **What happens:** be, make, feel, not do, lose, stop · **To what, where:** pathetic excuse, pity, homework, ten nil, me, pathetic whimper · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pathetic» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [pathetic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pathetic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, rude — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very weak, useless or poor; not good enough: «That was a pathetic excuse.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:m1:1
# text = Very weak, useless or poor; not good enough: «That was a pathetic excuse.».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
10	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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 -->
Making you feel pity and sadness: a pathetic little kitten in the rain.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:m2:1
# text = Making you feel pity and sadness: a pathetic little kitten in the rain.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	pity	pity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | you | pity and sadness |  |  |  | a pathetic little kitten in the rain *obl* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pity=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's a pathetic excuse for not doing your homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x1:1
# text = That's a pathetic excuse for not doing your homework.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a pathetic excuse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | gerund | a pathetic excuse *not said here* | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team was pathetic today; we lost ten-nil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x2:1
# text = Our team was pathetic today; we lost ten-nil.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	nil	nil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Our team |  |  |  | today | pathetic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | we | ten nil |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nil=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop being pathetic and help me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x3:1
# text = Stop being pathetic and help me.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | pathetic *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **help** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lost puppy gave a pathetic whimper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x4:1
# text = The lost puppy gave a pathetic whimper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | past | the lost puppy | a pathetic whimper |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whimper=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tiny bird looked pathetic in the snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x5:1
# text = The tiny bird looked pathetic in the snow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the tiny bird |  |  |  |  | in the snow; pathetic *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in snow=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling someone pathetic is unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pathetic:x6:1
# text = Calling someone pathetic is unkind.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	pathetic	pathetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | someone |  |  | pathetic *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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