---
title: awkwardly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «awkwardly» in the school dictionary: In a clumsy way that is not smooth or easy, as in «he fell awkwardly». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/awkwardly/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/) / awkwardly

# awkwardly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, he, nobody, She, everyone, two new boys · **What happens:** not be, be, fall, know, say, handle · **To what, where:** clumsy way, embarrassed way, way, ankle, him, sofa · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«awkwardly» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [awkwardly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/awkwardly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a clumsy way that is not smooth or easy, as in «he fell awkwardly».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:m1:1
# text = In a clumsy way that is not smooth or easy, as in «he fell awkwardly».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	clumsy	clumsy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
17	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | that |  |  | a clumsy way |  | smooth *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall** *in a quote* | past | he |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
In an embarrassed or uncomfortable way, as when nobody knows what to say.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:m2:1
# text = In an embarrassed or uncomfortable way, as when nobody knows what to say.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	embarrassed	embarrassed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	uncomfortable	uncomfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	11	nsubj	_	_
11	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	obj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | nobody |  |  | a embarrassed way |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a way that is hard to handle or badly placed, as in «an awkwardly shaped box».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:m3:1
# text = In a way that is hard to handle or badly placed, as in «an awkwardly shaped box».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	handle	handle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
11	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
18	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | that |  |  | a way |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **handle** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hold-15.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **place** | participle | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **shape** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She landed awkwardly and twisted her ankle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x1:1
# text = She landed awkwardly and twisted her ankle.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	landed	land	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	twisted	twist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **land** | past | She |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **twist** | past | She *not said here* | her ankle |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent ankle=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He smiled awkwardly when everyone sang to him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x2:1
# text = He smiled awkwardly when everyone sang to him.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smile** | past | He |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | everyone |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to he=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two new boys stood awkwardly by the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x3:1
# text = The two new boys stood awkwardly by the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
3	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the two new boys |  |  |  |  | by the door; awkwardly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by door=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sofa was awkwardly shaped and would not fit through the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x4:1
# text = The sofa was awkwardly shaped and would not fit through the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | past · passive |  | the sofa |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **not** **fit** | would |  |  |  | the door |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent through door=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I awkwardly tried to hold three bags and an umbrella.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x5:1
# text = I awkwardly tried to hold three bags and an umbrella.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | I |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **hold** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | three bags and a umbrella |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They laughed awkwardly after the joke fell flat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x6:1
# text = They laughed awkwardly after the joke fell flat.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	flat	flat	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | They |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fall** | past | the joke |  |  |  |  | flat *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus stop is awkwardly placed on a busy corner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x7:1
# text = The bus stop is awkwardly placed on a busy corner.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the bus stop |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **place** | participle |  |  |  | a busy corner |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on corner=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud, and there he stood with his legs straight up in the air.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:awkwardly:x8:1
# text = He fell so awkwardly that his head stuck in the mud, and there he stood with his legs straight up in the air.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	16	expl	_	_
15	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	_
20	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	up	up	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | He |  |  |  |  | awkwardly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stand** | past | he |  |  | the air; there |  | with his legs | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in air=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [awkward](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/awkward/)
- next →: [awkwardness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/awkwardness/)
- ↑ back to [A in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/)