---
title: confused — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confused» in the school dictionary: Not able to understand something or think clearly; not sure what is happening or what to do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confused

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thinking, I, He, you, She, cake · **What happens:** understand, think, happen, do, mix up, be · **To what, where:** something, two things, one, twins, long division, French · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«confused» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [confused in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/confused.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not able to understand something or think clearly; not sure what is happening or what to do.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:m1:1
# text = Not able to understand something or think clearly; not sure what is happening or what to do.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	ccomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	obj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **happen** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Mixed up or unclear: a confused story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:m2:1
# text = Mixed up or unclear: a confused story.
1	Mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	csubj:pass	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a verb, mixed up two things, thinking one was the other.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:m3:1
# text = As a verb, mixed up two things, thinking one was the other.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	csubj	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix up** | participle |  | two things |  |  |  | as a verb | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  | one |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot one=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | past | thinking |  |  |  |  | other *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I confused the twins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:m3e:1
# text = I confused the twins.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confused	confuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confuse** | past | I | the twins |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent twin=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm confused about how to do long division.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x1:1
# text = I'm confused about how to do long division.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	division	division	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | long division |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent division=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He looked confused when I spoke French.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x2:1
# text = He looked confused when I spoke French.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
7	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | He |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | I | French |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't get confused between "their" and "there".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x3:1
# text = Don't get confused between "their" and "there".
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **get** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She confused salt with sugar and the cake tasted awful!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x4:1
# text = She confused salt with sugar and the cake tasted awful!
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confused	confuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	tasted	taste	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	awful	awful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confuse** | past | She | salt |  |  |  | with sugar | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent salt=Patient with sugar=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **taste** | past | the cake |  |  |  |  | awful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma got confused after she fell, so we called an ambulance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x5:1
# text = Grandma got confused after she fell, so we called an ambulance.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ambulance	ambulance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **fall** | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | past | we | a ambulance |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ambulance=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new rules confused everyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x6:1
# text = The new rules confused everyone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	confused	confuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confuse** | past | the new rules | everyone |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy looked confused by its reflection.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x7:1
# text = The puppy looked confused by its reflection.
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	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	reflection	reflection	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 | **look** | past | the puppy |  |  |  |  | by puppy's reflection; confused *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent by reflection=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the teacher if you are confused.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x8:1
# text = Ask the teacher if you are confused.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smith was quite confused; he knew nothing about any funeral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confused:x9:1
# text = The smith was quite confused; he knew nothing about any funeral.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	smith	smith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	funeral	funeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the smith |  |  |  |  | confused *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | past | he | nothing |  |  |  | about any funeral | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer nothing=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->
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