---
title: pointless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pointless» in the school dictionary: Pointless means having no purpose or use. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pointless

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**Who acts:** Pointless, he, Shouting, meeting, team, it · **What happens:** mean, have, use, score, be, argue · **To what, where:** purpose, game, points, rain

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«pointless» 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: [pointless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pointless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pointless means having no purpose or use.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:m1:1
# text = Pointless means having no purpose or use.
1	Pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Pointless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** *not said to happen* | gerund | Pointless *not said here* | no purpose |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purpose=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | infinitive | Pointless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
In a game or test, pointless can mean scoring no points.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:m2:1
# text = In a game or test, pointless can mean scoring no points.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	pointless	pointless	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	scoring	score	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	12	det	_	_
12	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | pointless |  |  | a game or test |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **score** *not said to happen* | gerund | pointless *not said here* | no points |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's pointless arguing with my brother; he never listens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x1:1
# text = It's pointless arguing with my brother; he never listens.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	listens	listen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | pointless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with my brother | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with brother=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **not** **listen** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shouting at the rain is pointless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x2:1
# text = Shouting at the rain is pointless.
1	Shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	pointless	pointless	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 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  | the rain |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | Shouting |  |  |  |  | pointless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The meeting felt long and pointless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x3:1
# text = The meeting felt long and pointless.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the meeting |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team was pointless after the first round.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x4:1
# text = Our team was pointless after the first round.
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	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	round	round	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 | **is** | past | Our team |  |  |  | after the first round | pointless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's pointless to water the garden when it's raining.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x5:1
# text = It's pointless to water the garden when it's raining.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | pointless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **rain** | present · progressive | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without a plan, the trip seemed pointless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pointless:x6:1
# text = Without a plan, the trip seemed pointless.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the trip |  |  |  |  | without a plan; pointless *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

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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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