---
title: wasteful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wasteful» in the school dictionary: Wasteful means using more of something than is needed, or using it carelessly so that some is lost or thrown away. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wasteful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Wasteful, using, Leaving, It, you, much plastic packaging · **What happens:** mean, use, need, lose, throw away, leave · **To what, where:** more, it, some, tap, food, lights · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wasteful means using more of something than is needed, or using it carelessly so that some is lost or thrown away.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:m1:1
# text = Wasteful means using more of something than is needed, or using it carelessly so that some is lost or thrown away.
1	Wasteful	Wasteful	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj:pass	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	carelessly	carelessly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
15	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	19	mark	_	_
16	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	advcl	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	conj	_	_
22	away	away	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Wasteful |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  | more |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=Patient |
| 3 | **need** | present · passive | using |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF» |
| 4 | **use** | gerund | Wasteful *not said here* | it |  |  |  | carelessly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 5 | **lose** | present · passive |  | some |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 6 | **throw away** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving the tap running is wasteful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x1:1
# text = Leaving the tap running is wasteful.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	wasteful	wasteful	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 | **leave** | gerund |  | the tap |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tap=Theme |
| 2 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | Leaving |  |  |  |  | wasteful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's wasteful to throw away food you could eat later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x2:1
# text = It's wasteful to throw away food you could eat later.
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	wasteful	wasteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	away	away	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | wasteful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw away** | to-infinitive |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |
| 3 | **eat** | could | you | food *not said here* |  |  |  | late *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much plastic packaging is wasteful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x3:1
# text = Too much plastic packaging is wasteful.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	packaging	packaging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	wasteful	wasteful	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 | much plastic packaging |  |  |  |  | wasteful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving lights on in empty rooms is wasteful of energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x4:1
# text = Leaving lights on in empty rooms is wasteful of energy.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rooms	room	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	wasteful	wasteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave on** | gerund |  | lights |  | empty rooms |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent light=Theme in room=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | Leaving |  |  |  |  | of energy; wasteful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buying things you never use is wasteful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x5:1
# text = Buying things you never use is wasteful.
1	Buying	buy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wasteful	wasteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | gerund |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **use** | present | you | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present | Buying |  |  |  |  | wasteful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Recycling helps us be less wasteful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x6:1
# text = Recycling helps us be less wasteful.
1	Recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	wasteful	wasteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Recycling |  | us |  |  | wasteful *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | less *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If it was from economy, and you are anxious to teach me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wasteful:x7:1
# text = If it was from economy, and you are anxious to teach me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	economy	economy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	anxious	anxious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	teach	teach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
17	wasteful	wasteful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
21	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	22	det	_	_
22	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	for	for	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | it |  |  | economy |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | anxious *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **teach** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |
| 4 | **not** **is** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | wasteful *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **have** | present | you | no cause |  |  |  | for alarm | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cause=Patient |

<!-- 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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