---
title: decorative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decorative» in the school dictionary: Decorative means used to make something look pretty or attractive, rather than to be useful. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decorative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Decorative, something, We, plates, Christmas lights, cake · **What happens:** mean, use, make, look, be, describe · **To what, where:** something, someone, little work, decorative border, poems, decorative icing flowers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«decorative» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [decorative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decorative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decorative means used to make something look pretty or attractive, rather than to be useful.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:m1:1
# text = Decorative means used to make something look pretty or attractive, rather than to be useful.
1	Decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	pretty	pretty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	attractive	attractive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	16	cc	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
15	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	cop	_	_
16	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Decorative |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **look** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | pretty *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **is** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | useful *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 -->
Decorative can also describe someone or something that looks nice but does little work.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:m2:1
# text = Decorative can also describe someone or something that looks nice but does little work.
1	Decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	reparandum	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | present |  |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **do** | present |  | little work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew a decorative border around our poems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x1:1
# text = We drew a decorative border around our poems.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a decorative border |  | our poems |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent border=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plates on Nan's wall are only decorative, not for eating off.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x2:1
# text = The plates on Nan's wall are only decorative, not for eating off.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	Nan	Nan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	only	only	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
14	off	off	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the plates on Nan's wall |  |  |  |  | decorative *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **eat off** | gerund | the plates on Nan's wall *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christmas lights are decorative and cheerful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x3:1
# text = Christmas lights are decorative and cheerful.
1	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cheerful	cheerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Christmas lights |  |  |  |  | decorative *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Christmas lights *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cake had decorative icing flowers on top.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x4:1
# text = The cake had decorative icing flowers on top.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	icing	icing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the cake | decorative icing flowers |  | top |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old fireplace is decorative and never used.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x5:1
# text = The old fireplace is decorative and never used.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fireplace	fireplace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the old fireplace |  |  |  |  | decorative *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **use** | participle | the old fireplace *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Celtic knots are a famous decorative pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x6:1
# text = Celtic knots are a famous decorative pattern.
1	Celtic	celtic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	knots	knot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Celtic knots | a famous decorative pattern |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sword on the wall was purely decorative and very blunt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorative:x7:1
# text = The sword on the wall was purely decorative and very blunt.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	purely	purely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	decorative	decorative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	blunt	blunt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the sword on the wall |  |  |  |  | decorative, purely *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the sword on the wall *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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