---
title: complaint — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «complaint» in the school dictionary: A statement that something is wrong or not good enough. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# complaint

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, someone, We, Mum, only complaint, My · **What happens:** be, not be, do, make, break, write · **To what, where:** statement, something, complaint, letter, bus company, skin complaint · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«complaint» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [complaint in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/complaint.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A statement that something is wrong or not good enough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:m1:1
# text = A statement that something is wrong or not good enough.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
10	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something | a statement *not said here* |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | enough *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reason for being unhappy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:m2:1
# text = A reason for being unhappy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	unhappy	unhappy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | unhappy *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An official report that someone did something wrong (make a complaint).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:m3:1
# text = An official report that someone did something wrong (make a complaint).
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | someone | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  | a complaint |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset complaint=Product |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An illness or health problem (a skin complaint).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:m4:1
# text = An illness or health problem (a skin complaint).
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a complaint about the broken toy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x1:1
# text = We made a complaint about the broken toy.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a complaint |  |  |  | about the broken toy | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent complaint=Product |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum wrote a letter of complaint to the bus company.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x2:1
# text = Mum wrote a letter of complaint to the bus company.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Mum | a letter of complaint | the bus company |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent letter=Topic to company=Recipient |
| 2 | **letter** |  |  | complaint |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My only complaint is that the film was too short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x3:1
# text = My only complaint is that the film was too short.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My only complaint |  |  |  |  | short *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **complain** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom complaint «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor treated her skin complaint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x4:1
# text = The doctor treated her skin complaint.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	treated	treat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | past | the doctor | doctor's skin complaint |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent complaint=Recipient |
| 2 | **complain** |  | doctor |  |  |  |  |  | nom complaint «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Any complaints should go to the head teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x5:1
# text = Any complaints should go to the head teacher.
1	Any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | should | any complaints |  |  |  |  | to the head teacher | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to teacher=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No complaints — dinner was great!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x6:1
# text = No complaints — dinner was great!
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
4	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | no complaints's dinner |  |  |  |  | great *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Now, I'm tired of these complaints," said the Fire-drum.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:complaint:x7:1
# text = "Now, I'm tired of these complaints," said the Fire-drum.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	Fire	Fire	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the Fire drum *= drum* |  |  |  | now | of this complaints; tired *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Fire drum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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.

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