---
title: borderline — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «borderline» in the school dictionary: Only just on one side of a line between two groups or results, so it is hard to decide which: a borderline pass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# borderline

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** line, test score, he, borderline, His, joke · **What happens:** be, decide, pass, mark, need, retake · **To what, where:** border, borderline, score, borderline case · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«borderline» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [borderline in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/borderline.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only just on one side of a line between two groups or results, so it is hard to decide which: a borderline pass.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:m1:1
# text = Only just on one side of a line between two groups or results, so it is hard to decide which: a borderline pass.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	expl	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	csubj	_	_
21	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	25	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	pass	pass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pass** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A line that marks a border.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:m2:1
# text = A line that marks a border.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	marks	mark	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mark** | present | a line | a border |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent border=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Close to being an illness or problem but not quite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:m3:1
# text = Close to being an illness or problem but not quite.
1	Close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	case	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | close a illness or problem | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His test score was borderline, so he might need to retake it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:x1:1
# text = His test score was borderline, so he might need to retake it.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	retake	retake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | His test score | borderline |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | might | he | borderline *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **retake** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | borderline *not said here* | score |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **score** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That joke was borderline mean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:x2:1
# text = That joke was borderline mean.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that joke and borderline *not said here* | borderline |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | that joke and borderline |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was a borderline case for the team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:x3:1
# text = She was a borderline case for the team.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | a borderline case |  |  |  | for the team | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor said Grandad's sugar levels are borderline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:x4:1
# text = The doctor said Grandad's sugar levels are borderline.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	levels	level	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the doctor |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Grandad's sugar levels | borderline |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw a borderline between the two fields.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:borderline:x5:1
# text = Draw a borderline between the two fields.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	borderline	borderline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | a borderline |  |  |  | between the two fields | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent borderline=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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