---
title: comical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «comical» in the school dictionary: Comical means funny, especially in a silly or odd way that makes people laugh, often without meaning to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# comical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Comical, silly way, people, it, puppy, Grandad · **What happens:** mean, make, laugh, do, be, look · **To what, where:** people, joke, comical face, comical sight, banana skin, comical line

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Comical means funny, especially in a silly or odd way that makes people laugh, often without meaning to.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:m1:1
# text = Comical means funny, especially in a silly or odd way that makes people laugh, often without meaning to.
1	Comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Comical |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | a silly way | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **mean** | gerund | a silly way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Comical can also mean so silly or badly done that it is almost a joke.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:m2:1
# text = Comical can also mean so silly or badly done that it is almost a joke.
1	Comical	Comical	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Comical |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | participle | Comical *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | it | a joke |  |  |  | almost *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy looked comical in its tiny raincoat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x1:1
# text = The puppy looked comical in its tiny raincoat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	raincoat	raincoat	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 | **look** | past | the puppy |  |  |  |  | in puppy's tiny raincoat; comical *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in raincoat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad pulled a comical face and the baby giggled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x2:1
# text = Grandad pulled a comical face and the baby giggled.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	giggled	giggle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | past | Grandad | a comical face |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Theme |
| 2 | **giggle** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a comical sight: the clown slipping on a banana skin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x3:1
# text = It was a comical sight: the clown slipping on a banana skin.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|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	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sight	sight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clown	clown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	slipping	slip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a comical sight and the clown |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **slip** | gerund | the clown *not said here* |  |  | a banana skin |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The penguins waddled along in a comical line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x4:1
# text = The penguins waddled along in a comical line.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waddled	waddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	along	along	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	line	line	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 | **waddle** | past | the penguins |  |  | a comical line |  | along *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in line=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His excuse was so bad it was almost comical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x5:1
# text = His excuse was so bad it was almost comical.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His excuse |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | excuse |  |  |  |  | almost, comical *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **excuse** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat's comical leap into the box made us all laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x6:1
# text = The cat's comical leap into the box made us all laugh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	leap	leap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	advmod	_	_
12	laugh	laugh	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the cat's comical leap into the box | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | present | the cat's comical leap into the box *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **leap** |  | the cat |  |  | the box |  |  | nom leap «act transitive»: poss=agent into=place |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very comical sight was Moti when he rode out to the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comical:x7:1
# text = A very comical sight was Moti when he rode out to the war.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	comical	comical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sight	sight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	Moti	Moti	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a comical sight | Moti |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ride out** | past | Moti |  |  | the war |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent to war=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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