---
title: seldom — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «seldom» in the school dictionary: Not often; rarely. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# seldom

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, it, Snow, He, seldom event, low chance · **What happens:** not mean, see, eat out, cost, be, forget · **To what, where:** snow, lot, Owls, town, homework, low chance · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«seldom» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [seldom in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/seldom.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not often; rarely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:m1:1
# text = Not often; rarely.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	rarely	rarely	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We seldom see snow here.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:m1e:1
# text = We seldom see snow here.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | present | We | snow |  | here |  | seldom *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer snow=Stimulus |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Seldom, if ever» means almost never.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:m2:1
# text = «Seldom, if ever» means almost never.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | seldom *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It seldom rains in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x1:1
# text = It seldom rains in the desert.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rains	rain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We seldom eat out because it costs a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x2:1
# text = We seldom eat out because it costs a lot.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat out** | present | We |  |  |  |  | seldom *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cost** | present | it | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme lot=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owls are seldom seen in the day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x3:1
# text = Owls are seldom seen in the day.
1	Owls	owl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | present · passive |  | Owls |  |  | day | seldom *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snow is seldom, if ever, seen in this town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x4:1
# text = Snow is seldom, if ever, seen in this town.
1	Snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Snow |  |  |  |  | seldom *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | participle | Snow *not said here* |  |  | this town |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He seldom forgets his homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x5:1
# text = He seldom forgets his homework.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	forgets	forget	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	homework	homework	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 | **forget** | present | He | his homework |  |  |  | seldom *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A seldom event has a low chance of happening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x6:1
# text = A seldom event has a low chance of happening.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a seldom event | a low chance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chance=Patient |
| 2 | **happen** | gerund | a low chance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very seldom does she miss a match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x7:1
# text = Very seldom does she miss a match.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	miss	miss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** | present · do-support | she | a match |  |  |  | seldom *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer match=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old Anthony seldom spoke of this place, but he thought of it all the more.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seldom:x8:1
# text = Old Anthony seldom spoke of this place, but he thought of it all the more.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Anthony	Anthony	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	_
14	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	16	det:predet	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | Old Anthony |  |  |  |  | of this place; seldom *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Anthony |  |  |  |  | of place | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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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