---
title: selfless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «selfless» in the school dictionary: A selfless person thinks about other people's needs and happiness more than their own. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# selfless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** selfless person, other people, selfless act, selfless courage, Mum, she · **What happens:** think, need, be, do, help, want back · **To what, where:** something, others, anything, family, bigger slice, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«selfless» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [selfless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/selfless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A selfless person thinks about other people's needs and happiness more than their own.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:m1:1
# text = A selfless person thinks about other people's needs and happiness more than their own.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	selfless	selfless	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	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	needs	need	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	happiness	happiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | a selfless person |  |  |  |  | about other people's needs and happiness | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about need=Topic |
| 2 | **need** |  | other people |  |  |  |  |  | nom need «state transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 selfless act is something done to help others without wanting anything back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:m2:1
# text = A selfless act is something done to help others without wanting anything back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
12	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a selfless act | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **want back** | gerund |  | anything |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot anything=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighter's selfless courage saved the family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x1:1
# text = The firefighter's selfless courage saved the family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighter	firefighter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | past | the firefighter's selfless courage | the family |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent family=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is selfless; she always gives us the bigger slice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x2:1
# text = Mum is selfless; she always gives us the bigger slice.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	slice	slice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mum |  |  |  |  | selfless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | she | the bigger slice | us |  |  | always *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient slice=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving your lunch to the hungry boy was a selfless thing to do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x3:1
# text = Giving your lunch to the hungry boy was a selfless thing to do.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | your lunch | the hungry boy |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent lunch=Theme to boy=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Giving | a selfless thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nurses did selfless work during the long winter of illness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x4:1
# text = Nurses did selfless work during the long winter of illness.
1	Nurses	nurse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | Nurses | selfless work |  |  | winter |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe Jesus showed selfless love.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x5:1
# text = Christians believe Jesus showed selfless love.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **show** | past | Jesus | selfless love |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent love=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her selfless help at the food bank was thanked in assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:selfless:x6:1
# text = Her selfless help at the food bank was thanked in assembly.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	selfless	selfless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	thanked	thank	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | past · passive |  | Her selfless help at the food bank |  | assembly |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **help** |  | Her *= she* |  |  | the food bank |  |  | nom help «act transitive»: poss=agent at=place |

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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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