---
title: slowcoach — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slowcoach» in the school dictionary: A person who walks, works or does things too slowly; said in a teasing, friendly way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slowcoach

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, you, we, I, Grandad, slowcoach · **What happens:** walk, work, do, say, come on, miss · **To what, where:** things, teasing, bus, slowcoach, hill, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who walks, works or does things too slowly; said in a teasing, friendly way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:m1:1
# text = A person who walks, works or does things too slowly; said in a teasing, friendly way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	walks	walk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | present | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | present | a person *not said here* | things |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a person |  |  | a teasing and friendly way |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in teasing=Manner |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Come on, slowcoach, we'll miss the bus!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x1:1
# text = Come on, slowcoach, we'll miss the bus!
1	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	slowcoach	slowcoach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	miss	miss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come on** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | slowcoach *vocative* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **miss** | future | we | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bus=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm always the slowcoach when we walk up the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x2:1
# text = I'm always the slowcoach when we walk up the hill.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slowcoach	slowcoach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | the slowcoach |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | present | we |  |  | the hill |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme up hill=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad called me a slowcoach because I took ages to tie my shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x3:1
# text = Grandad called me a slowcoach because I took ages to tie my shoes.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slowcoach	slowcoach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | Grandad |  | me |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |
| 2 | **take** | past | I | ages |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent age=Theme |
| 3 | **tie** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | my shoes |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a slowcoach — it's nearly time to go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x4:1
# text = Don't be a slowcoach — it's nearly time to go.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slowcoach	slowcoach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | a slowcoach |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | slowcoach | time |  |  |  | nearly *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **go** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tortoise was a slowcoach, but it still won the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x5:1
# text = The tortoise was a slowcoach, but it still won the race.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	slowcoach	slowcoach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	still	still	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the tortoise | a slowcoach |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **win** | past | tortoise | the race |  |  | still |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Hurry up, slowcoaches!» shouted the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slowcoach:x6:1
# text = «Hurry up, slowcoaches!» shouted the teacher.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hurry	hurry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	slowcoaches	slowcoach	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurry up** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | slowcoaches |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

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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.

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