---
title: naughty — English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «naughty» in the English dictionary: Naughty describes a child or pet that behaves badly or does not obey. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# naughty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Naughty, child, naughty puppy, you, Santa, little sister · **What happens:** describe, behave, not obey, joke, chew, do · **To what, where:** child, something, joking way, shoe, class, He · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«naughty» in the English dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 11 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: [naughty in the English dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/naughty/).

## Everyday, meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Naughty describes a child or pet that behaves badly or does not obey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:m1:1
# text = Naughty describes a child or pet that behaves badly or does not obey.
1	Naughty	naughty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Naughty | a child or pet |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent child=Theme |
| 2 | **behave** | present | a child or pet |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **obey** | present · do-support | a child or pet *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «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.

## Everyday, meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Naughty can describe something a bit rude or not proper, in a joking way.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:m2:1
# text = Naughty can describe something a bit rude or not proper, in a joking way.
1	Naughty	naughty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	amod	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Naughty | something |  | a joking way |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Early Modern English, meaning 1 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bad, worthless or wicked; of no value.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:m3:1
# text = Bad, worthless or wicked; of no value.
1	Bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	worthless	worthless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The naughty puppy chewed my shoe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x1:1
# text = The naughty puppy chewed my shoe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	chewed	chew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chew** | past | the naughty puppy | my shoe |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be naughty in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x2:1
# text = Don't be naughty in class.
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	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	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 |  |  |  | class |  | naughty *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was sent to the naughty step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x3:1
# text = He was sent to the naughty step.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  | to the naughty step | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to step=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Santa checks who's naughty or nice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x4:1
# text = Santa checks who's naughty or nice.
1	Santa	Santa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | present | Santa |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | who *nsubj*; naughty *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister was naughty and hid the remote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x5:1
# text = My little sister was naughty and hid the remote.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	remote	remote	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** | past | My little sister |  |  |  |  | naughty *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hide** | past | My little sister *not said here* | the remote |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent remote=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was naughty of you to eat all the biscuits!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x6:1
# text = It was naughty of you to eat all the biscuits!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	biscuits	biscuit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | of you; naughty *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  | all biscuits |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The naughty kitten knocked over the vase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x7:1
# text = The naughty kitten knocked over the vase.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	knocked	knock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock** | participle |  | the naughty kitten *not said here* |  | the vase |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over vase=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x8:1
# text = You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient?
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	disobedient	disobedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | could | you |  |  |  |  | disobedient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I never knew her so naughty before.”

<!-- .note -->
From Peter Pan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x9:1
# text = I never knew her so naughty before.”
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	naughty	naughty	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	before	before	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **know** | past | I | her *= she* |  |  |  | before *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient?

<!-- .note -->
From The Book of Dragons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x10:1
# text = You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient?
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	disobedient	disobedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | could | you |  |  |  |  | disobedient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 11 {#x11}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Fie!” said he. “How naughty a boy Cupid is!

<!-- .note -->
From Andersen's Fairy Tales.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* “Fie!” said he.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x11:1
# text = “Fie!” said he.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fie	fie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Fie |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* “How naughty a boy Cupid is!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:naughty:x11:2
# text = “How naughty a boy Cupid is!
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	Cupid	Cupid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | a boy |  |  |  | Cupid *appos* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader, each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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