---
title: confusion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confusion» in the school dictionary: Confusion is the feeling of not understanding something or not knowing what to do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confusion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Confusion, feeling, nobody, She, you, your · **What happens:** be, not understand, not know, do, mix up, know · **To what, where:** feeling, something, messy state, things, one person, confusion · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Confusion is the feeling of not understanding something or not knowing what to do.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:m1:1
# text = Confusion is the feeling of not understanding something or not knowing what to do.
1	Confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	understanding	understand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	obj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Confusion | the feeling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **understand** | gerund | the feeling *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 3 | **not** **know** | gerund | the feeling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive | the feeling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Confusion is a messy state where things are mixed up and nobody knows what is happening.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:m2:1
# text = Confusion is a messy state where things are mixed up and nobody knows what is happening.
1	Confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	9	advmod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	13	nsubj	_	_
13	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Confusion | a messy state |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mix up** | present · passive |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **know** | present | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **happen** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Confusion is mistaking one person or thing for another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:m3:1
# text = Confusion is mistaking one person or thing for another.
1	Confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mistaking	mistake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistake** | present · progressive | Confusion | one person or thing |  |  |  | for another | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was some confusion about the time of the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x1:1
# text = There was some confusion about the time of the match.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | some confusion about the time of the match |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stared at the map in confusion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x2:1
# text = She stared at the map in confusion.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare** | past | She |  |  |  |  | in confusion; at the map | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at map=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To avoid confusion, write your name on your lunch box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x3:1
# text = To avoid confusion, write your name on your lunch box.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
3	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | confusion |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent confusion=Location |
| 2 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | your name |  | your lunch box |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent name=Theme on box=Destination |
| 3 | **name** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In all the confusion, I left my coat on the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x4:1
# text = In all the confusion, I left my coat on the bus.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | I | my coat |  | all confusion |  | on the bus | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent coat=Theme in confusion=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two words sound the same, which causes confusion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x5:1
# text = The two words sound the same, which causes confusion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sound	sound	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | the two words | the same |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location same=Theme |
| 2 | **cause** | present |  | confusion |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition confusion=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After he hit his head, his confusion worried the coach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x6:1
# text = After he hit his head, his confusion worried the coach.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	worried	worry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | he | his head |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme head=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **worry** | past | his confusion | the coach |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus coach=Experiencer |
| 3 | **confuse** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom confusion «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fire drill ended in noise and confusion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x7:1
# text = The fire drill ended in noise and confusion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	drill	drill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the fire drill |  |  | noise and confusion |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask your teacher if the question fills you with confusion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x8:1
# text = Ask your teacher if the question fills you with confusion.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fills	fill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	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* |  | your teacher |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 2 | **fill** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the question | you |  |  |  | with confusion | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent you=Patient with confusion=Instrument |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The confusion spread wider and wider.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confusion:x9:1
# text = The confusion spread wider and wider.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wider	wide	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wider	wide	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | the confusion |  |  |  |  | wide *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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