---
title: picky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «picky» in the school dictionary: A picky person is hard to please and only likes certain things, especially food. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# picky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** picky person, Picky, little brother, you, cat, She · **What happens:** be, please, like, mean, fuss, do · **To what, where:** certain things, picky eater, peas, socks, new foods, book

<!-- .vabout -->
«picky» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [picky in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/picky.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A picky person is hard to please and only likes certain things, especially food.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:m1:1
# text = A picky person is hard to please and only likes certain things, especially food.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	please	please	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a picky person |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **please** | to-infinitive | a picky person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **like** | present | a picky person *not said here* | certain things and food |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Picky can mean fussing about small details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:m2:1
# text = Picky can mean fussing about small details.
1	Picky	picky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	fussing	fuss	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Picky |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fuss** *not said to happen* | gerund | Picky *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about small details | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother is a picky eater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x1:1
# text = My little brother is a picky eater.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	eater	eater	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 | **is a** | present | My little brother | a picky eater |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be so picky — just eat your peas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x2:1
# text = Don't be so picky — just eat your peas.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	peas	pea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	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 | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | picky *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **eat** | infinitive |  | your peas |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pea=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat is picky about its food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x3:1
# text = The cat is picky about its food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the cat |  |  |  |  | about cat's food; picky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's picky about which socks she wears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x4:1
# text = She's picky about which socks she wears.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	6	det	_	_
6	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	wears	wear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | about which socks; picky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | present | she | which socks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent sock=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Picky eaters often try new foods slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x5:1
# text = Picky eaters often try new foods slowly.
1	Picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	eaters	eater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	foods	food	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Picky eaters | new foods |  |  |  | often, slowly *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher is picky about neat handwriting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x6:1
# text = My teacher is picky about neat handwriting.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	neat	neat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My teacher |  |  |  |  | about neat handwriting; picky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too picky to choose a book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x7:1
# text = He was too picky to choose a book.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | picky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a book |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you a picky eater?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:picky:x8:1
# text = Are you a picky eater?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	picky	picky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	eater	eater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | you | a picky eater |  |  |  |  | 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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