---
title: unwilling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unwilling» in the school dictionary: Unwilling means not wanting to do something, doing it only because you have to: an unwilling helper. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unwilling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unwilling, you, cat, He, She, Tom · **What happens:** mean, not want, do, have, unwill, refuse · **To what, where:** something, Unwilling, it, basket, toys, dentist · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«unwilling» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [unwilling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unwilling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unwilling means not wanting to do something, doing it only because you have to: an unwilling helper.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:m1:1
# text = Unwilling means not wanting to do something, doing it only because you have to: an unwilling helper.
1	Unwilling	unwilling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	only	only	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	unwilling	unwilling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	helper	helper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unwilling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  | Unwilling |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 5 | **have** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->
Unwilling to do something means you refuse or are not ready to do it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:m2:1
# text = Unwilling to do something means you refuse or are not ready to do it.
1	Unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	refuse	refuse	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **mean** | present | Unwilling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **refuse** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **not** **is** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **do** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat was unwilling to go into its basket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x1:1
# text = The cat was unwilling to go into its basket.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	basket	basket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | past · progressive | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | to-infinitive | the cat *not said here* |  |  | cat's basket |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into basket=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was unwilling to share his toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x2:1
# text = He was unwilling to share his toys.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his toys |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She went to the dentist unwillingly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x3:1
# text = She went to the dentist unwillingly.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dentist	dentist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	unwillingly	unwillingly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | She |  |  | the dentist |  | unwillingly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to dentist=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom was an unwilling volunteer for the magic trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x4:1
# text = Tom was an unwilling volunteer for the magic trick.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	unwilling	unwilling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	volunteer	volunteer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Tom | a unwilling volunteer |  |  |  | for the magic trick | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people were unwilling to go out in the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x5:1
# text = Many people were unwilling to go out in the storm.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | past · progressive | Many people |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go out** | to-infinitive | Many people *not said here* |  |  | the storm |  | out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia is unwilling to pay more than 10 pounds for the book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x6:1
# text = Mia is unwilling to pay more than 10 pounds for the book.
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	8	advmod	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | present · progressive | Mia |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive | Mia *not said here* | 10 pounds |  |  |  | for the book | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent pound=Asset for book=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unwilling:x7:1
# text = He was unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	unwilling	unwill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	maiden	maiden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	insisted	insist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unwill** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **insist** *speech: other* | past | the maiden |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

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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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