---
title: preoccupation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preoccupation» in the school dictionary: A state of thinking about one thing so much that you hardly notice other things: «In his preoccupation, he missed the bus.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# preoccupation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** state, you, Football, your, preoccupation, her · **What happens:** think, notice, miss, preoccupy, fill, be · **To what, where:** other things, bus, preoccupation, mind, main preoccupation, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A state of thinking about one thing so much that you hardly notice other things: «In his preoccupation, he missed the bus.».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:m1:1
# text = A state of thinking about one thing so much that you hardly notice other things: «In his preoccupation, he missed the bus.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	much	much	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	notice	notice	VERB	VBP	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	In	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
22	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	missed	miss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | a state *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about one thing | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about thing=Topic |
| 2 | **notice** | present | you | other things |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer thing=Stimulus |
| 3 | **miss** *in a quote* | past | a state | the bus |  | state's preoccupation |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bus=Stimulus |
| 4 | **preoccupy** *in a quote* |  | state |  |  |  |  |  | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=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 -->
Something that fills your mind all the time, a worry or strong interest: «Football is his main preoccupation.».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:m2:1
# text = Something that fills your mind all the time, a worry or strong interest: «Football is his main preoccupation.».
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fills	fill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	interest	interest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Football	Football	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
20	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | present |  | your mind |  |  | time |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Football | Football's main preoccupation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her preoccupation with the test made her forget her lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x1:1
# text = Her preoccupation with the test made her forget her lunch.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her preoccupation with the test | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* | preoccupation's lunch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **preoccupy** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  | with the test | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent with=obl |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Winning the cup was the team's only preoccupation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x2:1
# text = Winning the cup was the team's only preoccupation.
1	Winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	only	only	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | gerund |  | the cup |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cup=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the team | preoccupation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's main preoccupation is paying the bills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x3:1
# text = Dad's main preoccupation is paying the bills.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bills	bill	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 | **pay** | present · progressive | Dad's main preoccupation | the bills |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bill=Asset |
| 2 | **preoccupy** |  | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His preoccupation with his phone annoyed his gran.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x4:1
# text = His preoccupation with his phone annoyed his gran.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	annoyed	annoyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	gran	gran	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preoccupy** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  | with preoccupation's phone | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent with=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The writer's great preoccupation was the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x5:1
# text = The writer's great preoccupation was the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the writer's great preoccupation | the sea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **preoccupy** |  | the writer |  |  |  |  |  | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In her preoccupation she walked straight past her friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupation:x6:1
# text = In her preoccupation she walked straight past her friend.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	preoccupation	preoccupation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	past	past	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | she |  |  | her preoccupation |  | past her friend | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in preoccupation=Trajectory |
| 2 | **preoccupy** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom preoccupation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

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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.

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