---
title: procrastination — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «procrastination» in the school dictionary: Procrastination is putting off something you should do, especially something boring or hard, and doing it later or at the last minute. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/procrastination/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / procrastination

# procrastination

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Procrastination, you, I, My, Mum, playing · **What happens:** put off, do, mean, be, procrastinate, project · **To what, where:** something, Procrastination, project, desk, homework, games · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«procrastination» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 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: [procrastination in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/procrastination.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Procrastination is putting off something you should do, especially something boring or hard, and doing it later or at the last minute.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:m1:1
# text = Procrastination is putting off something you should do, especially something boring or hard, and doing it later or at the last minute.
1	Procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
12	boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	17	advmod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
21	at	at	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put off** | present · progressive | Procrastination | something |  |  |  | something *obl* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent something=Goal |
| 2 | **do** | should | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | Procrastination *not said here* | Procrastination |  |  |  | late *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My procrastination meant I did my project the night before it was due.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x1:1
# text = My procrastination meant I did my project the night before it was due.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	due	due	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | My procrastination |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | past | I | my project |  |  | night |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent project=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | past | procrastination |  |  |  |  | due *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **procrastinate** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom procrastination «act intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 5 | **project** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom project «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Procrastination is when you tidy your desk instead of doing your homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x2:1
# text = Procrastination is when you tidy your desk instead of doing your homework.
1	Procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tidy	tidy	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	desk	desk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | Procrastination |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tidy** | present | you | your desk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | you *not said here* | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum says playing games before chores is pure procrastination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x3:1
# text = Mum says playing games before chores is pure procrastination.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
4	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	chores	chore	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | gerund |  | games |  |  | before chores |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present | playing | pure procrastination |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To beat procrastination, start with just five minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x4:1
# text = To beat procrastination, start with just five minutes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
3	procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | procrastination |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location procrastination=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | minute |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Procrastination made the job feel even bigger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x5:1
# text = Procrastination made the job feel even bigger.
1	Procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	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	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Procrastination | the job |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | the job *not said here* |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Procrastination is the thief of time," says the old proverb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x6:1
# text = "Procrastination is the thief of time," says the old proverb.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	proverb	proverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Procrastination | the thief |  |  | time |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the thief | the old proverb |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent proverb=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breaking the essay into small parts helped me stop procrastination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:procrastination:x7:1
# text = Breaking the essay into small parts helped me stop procrastination.
1	Breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	procrastination	procrastination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | gerund |  | the essay |  |  |  | into small parts *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent essay=Patient into part=Result |
| 2 | **help** | past | Breaking | me |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **stop** | infinitive | me *not said here* | procrastination |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality procrastination=Eventuality |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [proclamation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/proclamation/)
- next →: [procurable](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/procurable/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)