---
title: selfish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «selfish» in the school dictionary: A selfish person thinks mostly about themselves and what they want, and does not care enough about other people. 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/S/selfish/)

<!-- 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/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / selfish

# selfish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** selfish person, they, It, Selfish, children, He · **What happens:** think, want, not care, do, be, eat · **To what, where:** selfish act, expense, selfish, sweets, garden, toys · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«selfish» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [selfish in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/selfish.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A selfish person thinks mostly about themselves and what they want, and does not care enough about other people.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:m1:1
# text = A selfish person thinks mostly about themselves and what they want, and does not care enough about other people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	selfish	selfish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	conj	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
17	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	advmod	_	_
18	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | a selfish person |  |  |  |  | about themselves *= they* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about themselves=Topic |
| 2 | **want** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **not** **care** | present · do-support | a selfish person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about other people | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus what S»: agent=Experiencer about people=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
A selfish act is one done only for your own good, at others' expense.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:m2:1
# text = A selfish act is one done only for your own good, at others' expense.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	selfish	selfish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nsubj	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	'	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	expense	expense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present · passive |  | a selfish act |  | others's expense |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's selfish to eat all the sweets yourself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x1:1
# text = It's selfish to eat all the sweets yourself.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
9	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | selfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  | all sweets |  |  |  | yourself *obl* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Selfish Giant would not let the children play in his garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x2:1
# text = The Selfish Giant would not let the children play in his garden.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Selfish	selfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	Giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | would | the Selfish |  |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | present | the children |  |  | his garden |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too selfish to share his toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x3:1
# text = He was too selfish to share his toys.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	selfish	selfish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | He |  |  |  |  | selfish *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his toys |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taking the last seat when Grandma was standing was selfish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x4:1
# text = Taking the last seat when Grandma was standing was selfish.
1	Taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | gerund |  | the last seat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seat=Theme |
| 2 | **stand** | past · progressive | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past | Taking | selfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being selfish can lose you friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x5:1
# text = Being selfish can lose you friends.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | gerund |  | selfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | can | selfish | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She realised she had been selfish and said sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x6:1
# text = She realised she had been selfish and said sorry.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	realised	realise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
6	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	ccomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **realise** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past · perfect | she | selfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was a very selfish Giant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfish:x7:1
# text = He was a very selfish Giant.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	Giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | a selfish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [self](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/self/)
- next →: [selfishness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/selfishness/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)