---
title: clumsily — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clumsily» in the school dictionary: Clumsily means in an awkward, careless way, so that you knock things over, drop things or move badly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clumsily

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, tact, He, puppy, She, baby · **What happens:** mean, knock over, drop, move, say, do · **To what, where:** things, paint pot, slippery floor, sentence, juice, homework · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clumsily means in an awkward, careless way, so that you knock things over, drop things or move badly.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:m1:1
# text = Clumsily means in an awkward, careless way, so that you knock things over, drop things or move badly.
1	Clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	awkward	awkward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	13	mark	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	knock	knock	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	over	over	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	drop	drop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
18	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
21	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a awkward careless way; clumsily *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |
| 2 | **knock over** | present | you | things |  |  |  | over *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 3 | **drop** | infinitive | you *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 4 | **move** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme 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 -->
Clumsily means said or done without skill or tact, so that it sounds awkward or rude.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:m2:1
# text = Clumsily means said or done without skill or tact, so that it sounds awkward or rude.
1	Clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	tact	tact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	14	mark	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	awkward	awkward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | clumsily *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | without skill or tact | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **sound** | present | tact |  |  |  |  | awkward *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He clumsily knocked over the paint pot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x1:1
# text = He clumsily knocked over the paint pot.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pot	pot	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 | **knock** | past | He |  |  | the paint pot |  | clumsily *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over pot=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy ran clumsily across the slippery floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x2:1
# text = The puppy ran clumsily across the slippery floor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the puppy |  |  | the slippery floor |  | clumsily *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across floor=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She clumsily tried to say sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x3:1
# text = She clumsily tried to say sorry.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | She |  |  |  |  | clumsily *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **say** *speech: apologize* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This sentence is clumsily written; try making it shorter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x4:1
# text = This sentence is clumsily written; try making it shorter.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
8	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | this sentence |  |  |  | clumsily *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **try** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | sentence |  |  |  | short *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby walked clumsily on her first steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x5:1
# text = The baby walked clumsily on her first steps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  | on baby's first steps; clumsily *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on step=Trajectory |
| 2 | **step** |  | baby |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He clumsily spilled juice all over his homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x6:1
# text = He clumsily spilled juice all over his homework.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	spilled	spill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	all	all	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | past | He | juice |  | his homework |  | clumsily *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location juice=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He baited his hook and then threw it into the sea clumsily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsily:x7:1
# text = He baited his hook and then threw it into the sea clumsily.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	baited	bait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hook	hook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
7	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	clumsily	clumsily	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bait** | past | He | his hook |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent hook=Destination |
| 2 | **throw** | past | He *not said here* | hook |  |  | then | into the sea *result*; clumsily *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Causer it=Theme into sea=Result |

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**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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