---
title: reluctant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «reluctant» in the school dictionary: Not wanting to do something, and so slow to do it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# reluctant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, She, dog, I, reluctant hero, They · **What happens:** not want, do, be, jump, find, leave · **To what, where:** something, it, cold water, reluctant reader, comics, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not wanting to do something, and so slow to do it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:m1:1
# text = Not wanting to do something, and so slow to do it.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
He was reluctant to jump into the cold water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x1:1
# text = He was reluctant to jump into the cold water.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | reluctant *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **jump** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the cold water *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into water=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was a reluctant reader until she found comics.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x2:1
# text = She was a reluctant reader until she found comics.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	comics	comic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | a reluctant reader |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | past | she | comics |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comic=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog was reluctant to leave the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x3:1
# text = The dog was reluctant to leave the beach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  | reluctant *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | the dog *not said here* | the beach |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beach=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was reluctant to tell Mum about the broken vase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x4:1
# text = I was reluctant to tell Mum about the broken vase.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | reluctant *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  | Mum |  |  | about the broken vase | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent mum=Recipient about vase=Topic |
| 3 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The reluctant hero finally agreed to help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x5:1
# text = The reluctant hero finally agreed to help.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	agreed	agree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | past | the reluctant hero |  |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the reluctant hero *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were reluctant to spend all their savings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x6:1
# text = They were reluctant to spend all their savings.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spend	spend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	savings	savings	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | They |  |  |  |  | reluctant *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spend** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | their savings |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent savings=Asset |
| 3 | **save** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom savings «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She seemed very reluctant, but at last she said:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reluctant:x7:1
# text = She seemed very reluctant, but at last she said:
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	reluctant	reluctant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	obl	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | She |  |  |  |  | reluctant *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  | last |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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