---
title: slacking — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slacking» in the school dictionary: Slacking means being lazy and not doing work you should be doing. 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/slacking/)

<!-- 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/) / slacking

# slacking

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, wind, your, coach, I, my · **What happens:** slack, mean, be, not do, do, get · **To what, where:** work, training, He, phone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slacking means being lazy and not doing work you should be doing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:m1:1
# text = Slacking means being lazy and not doing work you should be doing.
1	Slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	lazy	lazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux	_	_
12	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slack** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | lazy *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **do** | gerund |  | work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |
| 5 | **do** | should · progressive | you | work *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Slacking means getting looser or slower, like a rope or the wind (often «slackening»).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:m2:1
# text = Slacking means getting looser or slower, like a rope or the wind (often «slackening»).
1	Slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	looser	loose	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	slower	slow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	slackening	slacken	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slack** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a rope or the wind; loose *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **slacken** *in a quote* | gerund | the wind *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop slacking and get on with your work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:x1:1
# text = Stop slacking and get on with your work.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **slack** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **get on** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your work | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **work** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach said, «No slacking at training!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:x2:1
# text = The coach said, «No slacking at training!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	ccomp	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the coach |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **slack** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  | training |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was caught slacking on his phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:x3:1
# text = He was caught slacking on his phone.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slack** | gerund |  |  |  | his phone |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I've been slacking with my reading this week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:x4:1
# text = I've been slacking with my reading this week.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	aux	_	_
4	slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slack** | present · perfect · progressive | I |  |  |  | week | with my reading | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with reading=Instrument |
| 2 | **read** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom reading «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We can't afford to start slacking now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slacking:x5:1
# text = We can't afford to start slacking now.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	afford	afford	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	slacking	slack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **afford** | can | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **slack** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  |  | now |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [slacken](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slacken/)
- next →: [slag](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slag/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)