---
title: superfluous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superfluous» in the school dictionary: Superfluous means more than is needed, extra and not necessary. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superfluous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Superfluous, person, you, your, extra decorations, problem · **What happens:** mean, need, not want, feel, not need, cut · **To what, where:** more, they, superfluous words, sentence, story, superfluous information · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superfluous means more than is needed, extra and not necessary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:m1:1
# text = Superfluous means more than is needed, extra and not necessary.
1	Superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
4	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	necessary	necessary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Superfluous | more |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=Topic |
| 2 | **need** | present · passive | Superfluous *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF» |

<!-- .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.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Cut the superfluous words from your sentence."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:m1e:1
# text = "Cut the superfluous words from your sentence."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | the superfluous words |  | your sentence |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset word=Product from sentence=Material |
| 2 | **sentence** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superfluous can mean not wanted or useful, so a person may feel superfluous when they are not needed.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:m2:1
# text = Superfluous can mean not wanted or useful, so a person may feel superfluous when they are not needed.
1	Superfluous	Superfluous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	wanted	want	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
14	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Superfluous |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **want** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **feel** | may | a person |  |  |  |  | superfluous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **not** **need** | present · passive |  | they |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Delete any superfluous words from your story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x1:1
# text = Delete any superfluous words from your story.
1	Delete	delete	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
3	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delete** | imperative | you *not said here* | any superfluous words |  | your story |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent word=Theme from story=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The extra decorations were superfluous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x2:1
# text = The extra decorations were superfluous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	decorations	decoration	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the extra decorations |  |  |  |  | superfluous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The problem had superfluous information about the colour of the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x3:1
# text = The problem had superfluous information about the colour of the bus.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the problem | superfluous information |  |  |  | about the colour of the bus | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent information=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Packing three umbrellas seems superfluous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x4:1
# text = Packing three umbrellas seems superfluous.
1	Packing	pack	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	umbrellas	umbrella	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** | gerund |  | three umbrellas |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent umbrella=Theme |
| 2 | **seem** | present | Packing |  |  |  |  | superfluous *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With two helpers already, I felt superfluous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x5:1
# text = With two helpers already, I felt superfluous.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
4	already	already	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | with two helpers; superfluous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His long speech had a lot of superfluous detail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x6:1
# text = His long speech had a lot of superfluous detail.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	detail	detail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | His long speech | a lot of superfluous detail |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |
| 2 | **speak** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shoes inside a swimming pool are superfluous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x7:1
# text = Shoes inside a swimming pool are superfluous.
1	Shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Shoes inside a swimming pool |  |  |  |  | superfluous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
\[457\] A few lines are here omitted as being superfluous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superfluous:x8:1
# text = [457] A few lines are here omitted as being superfluous.
1	[	[	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	457	457	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	]	]	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
8	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	_
9	omitted	omit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	cop	_	_
12	superfluous	superfluous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **omit** | present · passive |  | a few lines |  | here |  | 457 *obl* | vn exclude-107.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | superfluous *property* | 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 -->

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