---
title: useful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «useful» in the school dictionary: Something useful helps you do something or is good for a purpose. 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/U/useful/)

<!-- 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/) / [U](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/) / useful

# useful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Something, you, useful person, ruler, that, Worms · **What happens:** help, do, be, draw, make, know · **To what, where:** you, something, lot, straight lines, useful advice, soil

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something useful helps you do something or is good for a purpose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:m1:1
# text = Something useful helps you do something or is good for a purpose.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
2	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Something | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a purpose; good *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 useful person helps a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:m2:1
# text = A useful person helps a lot.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | a useful person | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ruler is useful for drawing straight lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x1:1
# text = A ruler is useful for drawing straight lines.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a ruler |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | gerund | a ruler *not said here* | straight lines |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thanks, that was really useful advice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x2:1
# text = Thanks, that was really useful advice.
1	Thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	really	really	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that | useful advice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms are useful because they make soil healthy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x3:1
# text = Worms are useful because they make soil healthy.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Worms |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | Worms *= worm* | soil |  |  |  | healthy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset soil=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's useful to know your phone number by heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x4:1
# text = It's useful to know your phone number by heart.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | to-infinitive |  | your phone number |  |  |  | by heart | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer number=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A torch is useful when the lights go out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x5:1
# text = A torch is useful when the lights go out.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a torch |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go out** | present | the lights |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made herself useful by setting the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x6:1
# text = She made herself useful by setting the table.
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	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	setting	set	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | herself *= she* |  |  |  | useful *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herself=Product |
| 2 | **set** | gerund | She *not said here* | the table |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient table=Result |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which tool would be most useful here?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x7:1
# text = Which tool would be most useful here?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | would | which tool |  |  | here |  | useful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Could anything be more exciting or more useful?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useful:x8:1
# text = Could anything be more exciting or more useful?
1	Could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
2	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | could | anything |  |  |  |  | exciting *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | anything *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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