---
title: deadpan — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deadpan» in the school dictionary: Deadpan describes a way of telling a joke or saying something funny with a completely serious, blank face and flat voice, as if you do not know it is funny. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deadpan

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Deadpan, way, you, deadpan face, it, Dad · **What happens:** describe, tell, say, not know, be, deadpan · **To what, where:** way, joke, something, serious expressionless way, one, feeling · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deadpan» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [deadpan in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deadpan.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deadpan describes a way of telling a joke or saying something funny with a completely serious, blank face and flat voice, as if you do not know it is funny.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:m1:1
# text = Deadpan describes a way of telling a joke or saying something funny with a completely serious, blank face and flat voice, as if you do not know it is funny.
1	Deadpan	deadpan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
15	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	blank	blank	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
24	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	29	mark	_	_
25	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	29	mark	_	_
26	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	29	nsubj	_	_
27	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	29	aux	_	_
28	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	29	advmod	_	_
29	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
30	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	_
31	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	cop	_	_
32	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Deadpan | a way |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent way=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | a way *not said here* | a joke |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent joke=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  | with a serious blank face and flat voice | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent something=Theme with face=Manner |
| 4 | **not** **know** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **is** | present | Deadpan |  |  |  |  | funny *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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deadpan means to say something in this serious, expressionless way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:m2:1
# text = To deadpan means to say something in this serious, expressionless way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deadpan	deadpan	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	nsubj	_	_
9	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	expressionless	expressionless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deadpan** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  | serious expressionless way |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent something=Theme in way=Manner |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deadpan face or look is one that shows no feeling at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:m3:1
# text = A deadpan face or look is one that shows no feeling at all.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	deadpan	deadpan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
11	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a deadpan face or look | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present |  | no feeling |  | all |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Oh, it's only a little rain,» Dad said deadpan, as water poured through the roof.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x1:1
# text = «Oh, it's only a little rain,» Dad said deadpan, as water poured through the roof.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	9	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
12	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	deadpan	deadpan	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
18	poured	pour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	_
19	through	through	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | it | a little rain |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Dad |  |  |  |  | as water; deadpan *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pour** | participle |  | water *not said here* |  | the roof |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through roof=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her deadpan jokes make the whole class laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x2:1
# text = Her deadpan jokes make the whole class laugh.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	deadpan	deadpan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Her deadpan jokes | the whole class |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | the whole class *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He kept a deadpan face while the teacher read out his funny poem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x3:1
# text = He kept a deadpan face while the teacher read out his funny poem.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	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	deadpan	deadpan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | He | a deadpan face |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Theme |
| 2 | **read out** | past | the teacher | teacher's funny poem |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I'm thrilled,» she deadpanned, looking at the pile of homework.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x4:1
# text = «I'm thrilled,» she deadpanned, looking at the pile of homework.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	thrilled	thrilled	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	deadpanned	deadpan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | thrilled *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **deadpan** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | gerund | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the pile of homework | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at pile=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comedian's deadpan delivery made the joke twice as funny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x5:1
# text = The comedian's deadpan delivery made the joke twice as funny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comedian	comedian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	deadpan	deadpan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	delivery	delivery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	11	advmod	_	_
10	as	as	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the comedian's deadpan delivery | the joke |  |  |  | funny *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset joke=Product |
| 2 | **deliver** |  | the comedian |  |  |  |  |  | nom delivery «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
British comedy often uses deadpan humour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x6:1
# text = British comedy often uses deadpan humour.
1	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	comedy	comedy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	deadpan	deadpan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	humour	humour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | British comedy | deadpan humour |  |  |  | often *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent humour=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try telling the joke deadpan, without smiling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deadpan:x7:1
# text = Try telling the joke deadpan, without smiling.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	deadpan	deadpan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	smiling	smile	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | you *not said here* | the joke deadpan |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent deadpan=Recipient |
| 3 | **smile** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: 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.

<!-- /div -->

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