---
title: wishful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wishful» in the school dictionary: Wanting or hoping for something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wishful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Wishful thinking, something, you, thinking, Hoping, He · **What happens:** want, hope, mean, believe, be, happen · **To what, where:** thinking, test, wishful thinking, wishful look, toy, team · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wishful» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [wishful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wishful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wanting or hoping for something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:m1:1
# text = Wanting or hoping for something.
1	Wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **hope** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn long-32.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Pivot for something=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
"Wishful thinking" means believing that something is true or will happen only because you want it to, not because it is likely.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:m2:1
# text = "Wishful thinking" means believing that something is true or will happen only because you want it to, not because it is likely.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	believing	believe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
14	only	only	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	25	advmod	_	_
22	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
25	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Wishful thinking |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **believe** *not said to happen* | gerund | Wishful thinking *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **happen** | future | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **want** | present | you | thinking |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 6 | **not** **is** *not said to happen* | present | thinking |  |  |  |  | likely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hoping the test will be cancelled is just wishful thinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x1:1
# text = Hoping the test will be cancelled is just wishful thinking.
1	Hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	ccomp	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hope** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **cancel** | future · passive |  | the test |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Hoping | wishful thinking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave a wishful look at the toy in the shop window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x2:1
# text = He gave a wishful look at the toy in the shop window.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a wishful look |  | the toy |  | in the shop window | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent look=Theme at toy=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thinking our team will win 10–0 is wishful thinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x3:1
# text = Thinking our team will win 10–0 is wishful thinking.
1	Thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	csubj	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  | our team |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot team=Theme |
| 2 | **win** | future | Thinking |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | 10 wishful thinking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Maybe it'll snow on Christmas Day," she said in a wishful voice.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x4:1
# text = "Maybe it'll snow on Christmas Day," she said in a wishful voice.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
5	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Day	Day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | snow |  |  | a wishful voice | on Christmas Day |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Believing the homework will do itself is wishful thinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x5:1
# text = Believing the homework will do itself is wishful thinking.
1	Believing	believe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | gerund |  | the homework |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer homework=Stimulus |
| 2 | **do** | future | Believing | homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent itself=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Believing *not said here* | wishful thinking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog gave a wishful glance at my sandwich.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wishful:x6:1
# text = The dog gave a wishful glance at my sandwich.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wishful	wishful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	glance	glance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	sandwich	sandwich	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the dog | a wishful glance |  | my sandwich |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent glance=Theme at sandwich=Asset |

<!-- 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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