---
title: bickering — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bickering» in the school dictionary: Arguing about small, unimportant things, again and again. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bickering

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, brother, car trip, They, Mum, friends · **What happens:** argue, squabble, stop, bicker, get, make · **To what, where:** petty way, two, front seat, constant, car trip, laughter

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Arguing about small, unimportant things, again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:m1:1
# text = Arguing about small, unimportant things, again and again.
1	Arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund |  |  |  |  | again | about small unimportant things | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.theme S»: agent=Agent about thing=Topic |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb form — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Squabbling in a petty way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:m2:1
# text = Squabbling in a petty way.
1	Squabbling	squabble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	petty	petty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squabble** | gerund |  |  |  | a petty way |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop bickering, you two!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x1:1
# text = Stop bickering, you two!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	bickering	bicker	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* | two |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **bicker** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother and I were bickering about who got the front seat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x2:1
# text = My brother and I were bickering about who got the front seat.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	conj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	bickering	bicker	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bicker** | past · progressive | My brother |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | past |  | the front seat |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer seat=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The constant bickering made the car trip feel long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x3:1
# text = The constant bickering made the car trip feel long.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	bickering	bicker	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bicker** | gerund |  | the constant |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | past |  | the car trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive | the car trip *not said here* |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were bickering over the last biscuit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x4:1
# text = They were bickering over the last biscuit.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	bickering	bicker	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	biscuit	biscuit	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 | **bicker** | past · progressive | They |  |  |  |  | over the last biscuit | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent over biscuit=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a while the bickering turned into laughter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x5:1
# text = After a while the bickering turned into laughter.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	bickering	bicker	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | gerund · passive |  |  |  | laughter | while |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: into laughter=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is tired of all the bickering at bedtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x6:1
# text = Mum is tired of all the bickering at bedtime.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	7	det:predet	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bickering	bicker	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bedtime	bedtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mum |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bicker** | gerund | Mum *not said here* |  |  | bedtime |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The friends bickered but soon made up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bickering:x7:1
# text = The friends bickered but soon made up.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bickered	bicker	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bicker** | past | the friends |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make up** | participle | the friends *not said here* |  |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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