---
title: tactful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tactful» in the school dictionary: A tactful person is careful to say and do things in a way that does not upset or hurt others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tactful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tactful person, way, tactful remark, It, teacher, Mole · **What happens:** be, say, do, not upset, hurt, not mention · **To what, where:** things, way, others, haircut, tactful advice, him · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tactful person is careful to say and do things in a way that does not upset or hurt others.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:m1:1
# text = A tactful person is careful to say and do things in a way that does not upset or hurt others.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
15	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl:relcl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
20	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a tactful person |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | a tactful person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | a tactful person *not said here* | things |  | a way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **upset** | present · do-support | a way |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **hurt** | infinitive | a way *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer other=Patient |

<!-- .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 tactful remark or action is kind and careful about other people's feelings.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:m2:1
# text = A tactful remark or action is kind and careful about other people's feelings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a tactful remark or action |  |  |  |  | about other people's feelings; kind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a tactful remark or action *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was tactful of you not to mention her haircut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x1:1
# text = It was tactful of you not to mention her haircut.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	mention	mention	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | of you; tactful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **mention** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | her haircut |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent haircut=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gave tactful advice about the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x2:1
# text = The teacher gave tactful advice about the story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	advice	advice	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the teacher | tactful advice |  |  |  | about the story | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent advice=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole was too tactful to laugh at Toad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x3:1
# text = Mole was too tactful to laugh at Toad.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Mole |  |  |  |  | tactful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | to-infinitive | Mole *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at Toad | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to be tactful when you tell him he lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x4:1
# text = Try to be tactful when you tell him he lost.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tactful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | you |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **lose** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made a tactful excuse and left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x5:1
# text = She made a tactful excuse and left.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a tactful excuse |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent excuse=Product |
| 2 | **leave** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tactful friend knows when to stay quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tactful:x6:1
# text = A tactful friend knows when to stay quiet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tactful	tactful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | a tactful friend |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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