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# constructive

adjective (constructive)

«constructive» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Helpful and useful, aiming to improve something: constructive criticism. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#m1)
2. Building up rather than breaking down: a constructive discussion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#m2)

### In the lessons

In school, feedback should be constructive: say what is good and how to make work better, not just what is wrong. In group work and citizenship, constructive talk helps solve problems. Phrases: constructive criticism, constructive feedback, constructive suggestion.

### Examples

- Our teacher gives constructive feedback on our stories. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x1)
- "Your ending is exciting; maybe add more detail in the middle" is constructive criticism. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x2)
- We had a constructive talk about the playground rules. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x3)
- Try to be constructive, not just negative. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x4)
- The meeting was constructive and we made a plan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x5)
- She made a constructive suggestion to save time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/#x6)

### Note

Adverb: constructively. Opposite: destructive or unhelpful. Constructive criticism is kind and specific, not insulting.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «constructive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/constructive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«constructive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/constructive.html) on Mova free.