---
title: clumsiness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clumsiness» in the school dictionary: Being clumsy: moving in an awkward, careless way so that you drop, bump into or break things. 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/C/clumsiness/)

<!-- 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/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / clumsiness

# clumsiness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, moving, awkward unskilful way, I, clumsiness, him · **What happens:** be, move, drop, bump, break, say · **To what, where:** awkward careless way, things, awkward unskilful way, people, juice, clumsiness · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being clumsy: moving in an awkward, careless way so that you drop, bump into or break things.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:m1:1
# text = Being clumsy: moving in an awkward, careless way so that you drop, bump into or break things.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	clumsy	clumsy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	csubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	awkward	awkward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	drop	drop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
16	bump	bump	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
17	into	into	ADP	IN	_	16	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	_
20	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | clumsy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  | a awkward careless way |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in way=Trajectory |
| 3 | **drop** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **bump** | present | moving |  |  |  |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **break** | infinitive | moving *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer thing=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Saying or doing things in an awkward, unskilful way that can upset people.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:m2:1
# text = Saying or doing things in an awkward, unskilful way that can upset people.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	awkward	awkward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	unskilful	unskilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | things |  | a awkward unskilful way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **upset** | can | a awkward unskilful way | people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Through clumsiness, I knocked my juice over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x1:1
# text = Through clumsiness, I knocked my juice over.
1	Through	through	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	over	over	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock over** | past | I | my juice |  | clumsiness |  | over *property* | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent juice=Theme through clumsiness=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His clumsiness made him trip on the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x2:1
# text = His clumsiness made him trip on the stairs.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	trip	trip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His clumsiness | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trip** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  | the stairs |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on stair=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Carrying too much at once often leads to clumsiness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x3:1
# text = Carrying too much at once often leads to clumsiness.
1	Carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	much	much	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	1	obl	_	_
6	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lead** | present | Carrying |  |  |  |  | to clumsiness; often *property* | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to clumsiness=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She laughed at her own clumsiness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x4:1
# text = She laughed at her own clumsiness.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | She |  |  | her own clumsiness |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puppies are full of clumsiness when they are young.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x5:1
# text = Puppies are full of clumsiness when they are young.
1	Puppies	puppy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Puppies |  |  |  |  | of clumsiness; full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Puppies *= puppy* |  |  |  |  | young *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tiredness can cause clumsiness, so be careful with knives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x6:1
# text = Tiredness can cause clumsiness, so be careful with knives.
1	Tiredness	tiredness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	knives	knife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Tiredness | clumsiness |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition clumsiness=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive | Tiredness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with knives; careful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new boy's clumsiness with words made him shy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clumsiness:x7:1
# text = The new boy's clumsiness with words made him shy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	clumsiness	clumsiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	shy	shy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the new boy's clumsiness | boy |  |  |  | with words; shy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset he=Product |

<!-- 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: [clumsily](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clumsily/)
- next →: [clumsy](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clumsy/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)