---
title: problem — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «problem» in the school dictionary: A problem is a question you have to work out, like a maths story: a word problem. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# problem

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** problem, you, question, car, Tom, Kim · **What happens:** be, have, work out, need, fix, mean · **To what, where:** question, something, problem, whole problem, two steps, 6 problems · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«problem» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [problem in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/problem.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A problem is a question you have to work out, like a maths story: a word problem.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:m1:1
# text = A problem is a question you have to work out, like a maths story: a word problem.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	maths	maths	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a problem | a question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | a question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work out** | to-infinitive | a question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a maths story and a word problem | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: 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 -->
A problem is something that is wrong or hard and needs to be fixed.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:m2:1
# text = A problem is something that is wrong or hard and needs to be fixed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a problem | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **need** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **fix** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle» |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car has a problem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:m2e:1
# text = The car has a problem.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the car | a problem |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«No problem» means it is easy, or you are welcome.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:m3:1
# text = «No problem» means it is easy, or you are welcome.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	expl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	welcome	welcome	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | no problem |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | welcome *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the whole problem first, then choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x1:1
# text = Read the whole problem first, then choose.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the whole problem |  |  |  | first *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 2 | **choose** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This problem has two steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x2:1
# text = This problem has two steps.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | this problem | two steps |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom solved 6 problems and Kim solved 9.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x3:1
# text = Tom solved 6 problems and Kim solved 9.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	Kim	Kim	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | past | Tom | 6 problems |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 2 | **solve** | past | Kim | 9 |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 9=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you help me with this maths problem?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x4:1
# text = Can you help me with this maths problem?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	nsubj	_	_
7	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	problem	problem	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 | **help** | can | you |  | me |  |  | with maths problem | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary with problem=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We have a problem: the tap is leaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x5:1
# text = We have a problem: the tap is leaking.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	leaking	leak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | a problem |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |
| 2 | **leak** | present · progressive | the tap |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you have a problem at school, talk to your teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x6:1
# text = If you have a problem at school, talk to your teacher.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | a problem |  | school |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |
| 2 | **talk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to your teacher | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to teacher=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Thank you!» «No problem.»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Thank you!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x7:1
# text = «Thank you!»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «No problem.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x7:2
# text = «No problem.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Litter is a big problem for sea animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x8:1
# text = Litter is a big problem for sea animals.
1	Litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Litter | a big problem |  |  |  | for sea animals | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He pursued the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:problem:x9:1
# text = He pursued the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pursued	pursue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	sleuth	sleuth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	hound	hound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | past | He | the problem |  |  |  | like the sleuth hound | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Theme |
| 2 | **be** | past | hound |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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