---
title: doubtfully — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «doubtfully» in the school dictionary: In a way that shows you are not sure about something, or do not quite believe it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# doubtfully

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, you, that, this, Mum, He · **What happens:** show, not be, not believe, be, ask, look · **To what, where:** way, right way, Alice, strange green soup, new food · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a way that shows you are not sure about something, or do not quite believe it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:m1:1
# text = In a way that shows you are not sure about something, or do not quite believe it.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	believe	believe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a way |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | about something; sure *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **believe** | infinitive · do-support |  | way |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
In a way that is uncertain or unlikely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:m2:1
# text = In a way that is uncertain or unlikely.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Is this the right way?» asked Alice doubtfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x1:1
# text = «Is this the right way?» asked Alice doubtfully.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	iobj	_	_
11	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | this | the right way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past |  |  | Alice |  |  | doubtfully *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent alice=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum looked doubtfully at the burnt toast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x2:1
# text = Mum looked doubtfully at the burnt toast.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	burnt	burnt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	toast	toast	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 | **look** | past | Mum |  |  |  |  | at the burnt toast; doubtfully *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at toast=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He doubtfully tasted the strange green soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x3:1
# text = He doubtfully tasted the strange green soup.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	tasted	taste	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **taste** | past | He | the strange green soup |  |  |  | doubtfully *property* | vn seem-109 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Theme soup=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I suppose it might work,» she said doubtfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x4:1
# text = «I suppose it might work,» she said doubtfully.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	suppose	suppose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suppose** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **work** *in a quote* | might | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  | doubtfully *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mole looked doubtfully at the wobbly boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x5:1
# text = The Mole looked doubtfully at the wobbly boat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	boat	boat	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 | **look** | past | the Mole |  |  |  |  | at the wobbly boat; doubtfully *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at boat=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog sniffed the new food doubtfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x6:1
# text = The dog sniffed the new food doubtfully.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sniffed	sniff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | past | the dog | the new food |  |  |  | doubtfully *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“There is a way,” said the servant doubtfully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doubtfully:x7:1
# text = “There is a way,” said the servant doubtfully.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	doubtfully	doubtfully	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *in a quote* | present | a way |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  | doubtfully *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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