---
title: corny — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «corny» in the school dictionary: Old-fashioned, silly or used too many times to be funny or moving, but often in a sweet way: «a corny joke». 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/corny/)

<!-- 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/) / corny

# corny

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** jokes, we, Dad, cracker joke, ending, love song · **What happens:** use, be, move, groan, joke, laugh · **To what, where:** film, sister, best friend, prize, field · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«corny» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [corny in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/corny.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old-fashioned, silly or used too many times to be funny or moving, but often in a sweet way: «a corny joke».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:m1:1
# text = Old-fashioned, silly or used too many times to be funny or moving, but often in a sweet way: «a corny joke».
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	cop	_	_
13	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Too sentimental, sweet or soppy: «a corny love song».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:m2:1
# text = Too sentimental, sweet or soppy: «a corny love song».
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	sentimental	sentimental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	soppy	soppy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of or full of corn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:m3:1
# text = Of or full of corn.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	corn	corn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's jokes are so corny that we all groan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x1:1
# text = Dad's jokes are so corny that we all groan.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
10	groan	groan	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dad's jokes |  |  |  |  | corny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **groan** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** |  | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cracker joke was corny, but we laughed anyway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x2:1
# text = The cracker joke was corny, but we laughed anyway.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cracker	cracker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the cracker joke |  |  |  |  | corny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | we |  |  |  |  | anyway *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ending of the film was a bit corny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x3:1
# text = The ending of the film was a bit corny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the ending of the film |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; corny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** |  |  | the film |  |  |  |  | nom ending «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That corny love song makes my sister cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x4:1
# text = That corny love song makes my sister cry.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
2	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | that love song | my sister |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | infinitive | my sister *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I know it sounds corny, but you're my best friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x5:1
# text = I know it sounds corny, but you're my best friend.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	amod	_	_
12	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **sound** | present | it |  |  |  |  | corny *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is a** | present | you | my best friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why did the scarecrow win a prize? He was outstanding in his field. — That's so corny!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Why did the scarecrow win a prize?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x6:1
# text = Why did the scarecrow win a prize?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scarecrow	scarecrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	win	win	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past · do-support | the scarecrow | a prize |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prize=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* He was outstanding in his field. — That's so corny!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:corny:x6:2
# text = He was outstanding in his field. — That's so corny!
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	outstanding	outstanding	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	corny	corny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  | his field |  | outstanding *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | That |  |  |  |  | corny *property* | tree rules |

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