---
title: preoccupied — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preoccupied» in the school dictionary: Thinking so much about one thing, often a worry, that you do not notice what is around you: «She looked preoccupied.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# preoccupied

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, problem, someone, my, She, Money worries · **What happens:** think, not notice, be, preoccupy, fill, mind · **To what, where:** She, Filled mind, Mum, question, He, dinner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thinking so much about one thing, often a worry, that you do not notice what is around you: «She looked preoccupied.».

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:m1:1
# text = Thinking so much about one thing, often a worry, that you do not notice what is around you: «She looked preoccupied.».
1	Thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	25	csubj:pass	_	_
2	so	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	much	much	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	notice	notice	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	20	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	around	around	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj:pass	_	_
24	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux:pass	_	_
25	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	25	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about one thing | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about thing=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **notice** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | around you | tree rules |
| 4 | **preoccupy** *in a quote* | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: verb, past — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Filled someone's mind: «The problem preoccupied him all week.».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:m2:1
# text = Filled someone's mind: «The problem preoccupied him all week.».
1	Filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **preoccupy** *in a quote* | past | the problem | someone's Filled mind |  |  | week |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |
| 3 | **mind** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum seemed preoccupied and did not hear my question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x1:1
# text = Mum seemed preoccupied and did not hear my question.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preoccupy** | past · passive |  | Mum |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **hear** | past · do-support |  | my question |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer question=Stimulus |
| 3 | **question** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom question «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too preoccupied with his game to eat dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x2:1
# text = He was too preoccupied with his game to eat dinner.
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	aux:pass	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preoccupy** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  | with his game | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  | dinner |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dinner=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective was preoccupied with the missing key.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x3:1
# text = The detective was preoccupied with the missing key.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	key	key	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 | **preoccupy** | past · passive |  | the detective |  |  |  | with the missing key | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stared out of the window, preoccupied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x4:1
# text = She stared out of the window, preoccupied.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare out** | past | She | the window |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **preoccupy** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Money worries preoccupied the family all winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x5:1
# text = Money worries preoccupied the family all winter.
1	Money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	worries	worry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preoccupy** | past | Money worries | the family |  |  | winter |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus family=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was so preoccupied that I put the milk in the cupboard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preoccupied:x6:1
# text = I was so preoccupied that I put the milk in the cupboard.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	preoccupied	preoccupy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cupboard	cupboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **preoccupy** | past · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **put** | past | I | the milk |  | the cupboard |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent milk=Theme in cupboard=Destination |

<!-- 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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