---
title: scant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scant» in the school dictionary: Scant means very little, hardly enough. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Scant, Having, you, scant food, He, scientist · **What happens:** mean, state, have, be, puff, climb · **To what, where:** little, less, scant, breath, scant food, scant attention · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scant means very little, hardly enough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:m1:1
# text = Scant means very little, hardly enough.
1	Scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Scant | little |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent little=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Scant can mean a bit less than a stated amount, as in «a scant teaspoon» (not quite a full one).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:m2:1
# text = Scant can mean a bit less than a stated amount, as in «a scant teaspoon» (not quite a full one).
1	Scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	obj	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	stated	state	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
21	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Scant | less |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent less=Topic |
| 2 | **state** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having a scant in your breath means being short of breath, so you puff when you climb.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:m3:1
# text = Having a scant in your breath means being short of breath, so you puff when you climb.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	puff	puff	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
16	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	18	advmod	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	climb	climb	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | a scant |  | your breath |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scant=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Having |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of breath; short *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **puff** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |
| 5 | **climb** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was scant food left after the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x1:1
# text = There was scant food left after the party.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | scant food |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | scant food *not said here* |  |  | after the party |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He paid scant attention to the warning signs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x2:1
# text = He paid scant attention to the warning signs.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | He | scant attention |  |  |  | to the warning signs | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist said there was scant evidence for the claim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x3:1
# text = The scientist said there was scant evidence for the claim.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the scientist |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past | scant evidence for the claim |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add a scant teaspoon of salt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x4:1
# text = Add a scant teaspoon of salt.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	teaspoon	teaspoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a scant teaspoon of salt |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teaspoon=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The desert gets scant rain each year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x5:1
# text = The desert gets scant rain each year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	year	year	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 | **get** | present | the desert | scant rain |  |  | year |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rain=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorers had scant hope of rescue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x6:1
# text = The explorers had scant hope of rescue.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rescue	rescue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the explorers | scant hope of rescue |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Patient |
| 2 | **hope** |  | rescue |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Henceforth whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath and a pain in my chest."

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scant:x7:1
# text = Henceforth whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath and a pain in my chest."
1	Henceforth	henceforth	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	whenever	whenever	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	scant	scant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go up** | present | I | a hill |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **have** | shall | I | a scant |  | my breath and a pain in my chest |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scant=Patient |

<!-- 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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