---
title: petty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «petty» in the school dictionary: Small and unimportant: petty problems. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# petty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, They, petty argument, Shoplifting, office, Toad · **What happens:** care, do, not be, share, have, sit · **To what, where:** much, petty, crayons, petty argument, sweet, petty theft · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«petty» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [petty in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/petty.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small and unimportant: petty problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:m1:1
# text = Small and unimportant: petty problems.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Caring too much about small things in a mean way: «Don't be so petty!».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:m2:1
# text = Caring too much about small things in a mean way: «Don't be so petty!».
1	Caring	care	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
15	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **care** | gerund |  | much |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is a** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | petty |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Minor, less serious: petty crime, petty theft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:m3:1
# text = Minor, less serious: petty crime, petty theft.
1	Minor	minor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	petty	petty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small, for daily use: petty cash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:m4:1
# text = Small, for daily use: petty cash.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	daily	daily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cash	cash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be petty — share the crayons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x1:1
# text = Don't be petty — share the crayons.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	petty	petty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	share	share	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crayons	crayon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | petty *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **share** | infinitive |  | the crayons |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They had a petty argument about who sat where.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x2:1
# text = They had a petty argument about who sat where.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | They | a petty argument |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Patient |
| 2 | **sit** | past | a petty argument |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoplifting a sweet is still petty theft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x3:1
# text = Shoplifting a sweet is still petty theft.
1	Shoplifting	shoplift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sweet	sweet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	petty	petty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shoplift** | gerund |  | a sweet |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Shoplifting | petty theft |  |  | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The office keeps petty cash in a tin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x4:1
# text = The office keeps petty cash in a tin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cash	cash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the office | petty cash |  | a tin |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent cash=Theme in tin=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad thought rules were petty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x5:1
# text = Toad thought rules were petty.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | rules | petty |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's petty to stay cross about a game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petty:x6:1
# text = It's petty to stay cross about a game.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	cross	cross	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | petty |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | cross *property* | 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 -->

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