---
title: vain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vain» in the school dictionary: Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# vain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, vain, vain crow, fox, He, They · **What happens:** have, not succeed, mean, drop, praise, sing · **To what, where:** vain attempt, cheese, crow, hair, window, vain

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:m1:1
# text = Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	looks	look	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	cleverness	cleverness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	conj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **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 -->
Useless; not succeeding: a vain attempt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:m2:1
# text = Useless; not succeeding: a vain attempt.
1	Useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	succeeding	succeed	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **succeed** | gerund |  | a vain attempt |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In vain» means without success.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:m3:1
# text = «In vain» means without success.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | vain |  |  |  |  | without success | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vain crow dropped the cheese when the fox praised her singing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x1:1
# text = The vain crow dropped the cheese when the fox praised her singing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	praised	praise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | the vain crow | the cheese |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cheese=Theme |
| 2 | **praise** | past | the fox | crow |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | the fox *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is so vain he checks his hair in every window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x2:1
# text = He is so vain he checks his hair in every window.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | vain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **check** | present | he | his hair |  | every window |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They searched in vain for the lost ring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x3:1
# text = They searched in vain for the lost ring.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	searched	search	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | past | They | vain |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent vain=Location |
| 2 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a vain attempt to catch the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x4:1
# text = It was a vain attempt to catch the bus.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a vain attempt |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be vain about winning; be kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x5:1
# text = Don't be vain about winning; be kind.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | vain *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **win** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She waited in vain for a reply.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x6:1
# text = She waited in vain for a reply.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | past | She |  |  | vain |  | for a reply | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in vain=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goose hunted everywhere, but in vain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vain:x7:1
# text = The goose hunted everywhere, but in vain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goose	goose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hunted	hunt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	vain	vain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | participle | the goose |  |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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