---
title: scarcity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scarcity» in the school dictionary: Scarcity is when there is not enough of something that people need or want. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scarcity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Scarcity, people, basic idea, Water scarcity, price · **What happens:** not be, need, want, be, limit, choose · **To what, where:** basic idea, resources, big problem, dry countries, crops · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«scarcity» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [scarcity in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scarcity.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scarcity is when there is not enough of something that people need or want.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:m1:1
# text = Scarcity is when there is not enough of something that people need or want.
1	Scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Scarcity |  |  |  |  | of something; enough *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot that=Theme |
| 3 | **want** | present | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- .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: economics — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scarcity is the basic idea that resources are limited, so people must choose.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:m2:1
# text = Scarcity is the basic idea that resources are limited, so people must choose.
1	Scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	resources	resource	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	limited	limit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
13	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Scarcity | the basic idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **limit** | present · passive | the basic idea *not said here* | resources |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **choose** | must | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water scarcity is a big problem in dry countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:x1:1
# text = Water scarcity is a big problem in dry countries.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Water scarcity | a big problem |  | dry countries |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scarcity of rain killed the crops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:x2:1
# text = The scarcity of rain killed the crops.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	killed	kill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | past | the scarcity of rain | the crops |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crop=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because of the scarcity of eggs, the price went up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:x3:1
# text = Because of the scarcity of eggs, the price went up.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	4	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go up** | past | the price |  |  |  |  | because the scarcity of eggs | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scarcity means people must choose what to buy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:x4:1
# text = Scarcity means people must choose what to buy.
1	Scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Scarcity |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **choose** | must | people |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **buy** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the war there was a scarcity of sugar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scarcity:x5:1
# text = During the war there was a scarcity of sugar.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scarcity	scarcity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a scarcity of sugar |  |  | there | during the war |  | 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 -->

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