---
title: useless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «useless» in the school dictionary: Not useful; not able to do its job. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# useless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** its, broken umbrella, It, I, pen, torch · **What happens:** do, job, have, break, be, argue · **To what, where:** job, effect, ink, us, maths · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«useless» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [useless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/useless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not useful; not able to do its job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m1:1
# text = Not useful; not able to do its job.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | its job |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 2 | **job** |  | its *= it* |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=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.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"A broken umbrella is useless."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m1e:1
# text = "A broken umbrella is useless."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | a broken umbrella |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having no effect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m2:1
# text = Having no effect.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | no effect |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It's useless to argue."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m2e:1
# text = "It's useless to argue."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	argue	argue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Informally, very bad at something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m3:1
# text = Informally, very bad at something.
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I'm useless at drawing."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:m3e:1
# text = "I'm useless at drawing."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This pen is useless; it has no ink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x1:1
# text = This pen is useless; it has no ink.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	ink	ink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this pen |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | pen | no ink |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ink=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A torch without batteries is useless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x2:1
# text = A torch without batteries is useless.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a torch without batteries |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's useless to shout; nobody can hear us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x3:1
# text = It's useless to shout; nobody can hear us.
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	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	shout	shout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
10	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hear** | can | nobody | us |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer we=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some numbers in the problem are useless for the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x4:1
# text = Some numbers in the problem are useless for the answer.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some numbers in the problem |  |  |  |  | for the answer; useless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt useless when I could not help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x5:1
# text = I felt useless when I could not help.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | useless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **help** | could | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't say you are useless at maths; just keep practising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x6:1
# text = Don't say you are useless at maths; just keep practising.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	practising	practise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  | maths |  | useless *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **practise** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Precautions are useless after the event.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:useless:x7:1
# text = Precautions are useless after the event.
1	Precautions	precaution	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Precautions |  |  |  | after the event | useless *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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