---
title: dreadful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dreadful» in the school dictionary: Very bad or unpleasant. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dreadful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** weather, I, my, dreadful accident, dreadful thing, food · **What happens:** cause, use, make, be, cancel, test · **To what, where:** dreadful mess, something, sports day, dreadful mistake, test, motorway · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dreadful» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [dreadful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dreadful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very bad or unpleasant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:m1:1
# text = Very bad or unpleasant.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Causing fear or great shock; terrible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:m2:1
# text = Causing fear or great shock; terrible.
1	Causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shock	shock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used to make something stronger: a dreadful mess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:m3:1
# text = Used to make something stronger: a dreadful mess.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a dreadful mess |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | strong *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weather was dreadful, so sports day was cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x1:1
# text = The weather was dreadful, so sports day was cancelled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the weather |  |  |  |  | dreadful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | sports day |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I made a dreadful mistake on my test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x2:1
# text = I made a dreadful mistake on my test.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | I | a dreadful mistake |  | my test |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |
| 2 | **test** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a dreadful accident on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x3:1
# text = There was a dreadful accident on the motorway.
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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a dreadful accident |  |  | the motorway; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on motorway=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«What a dreadful thing to say!» gasped Grandma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x4:1
# text = «What a dreadful thing to say!» gasped Grandma.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	5	det:predet	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	gasped	gasp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | to-infinitive | what dreadful thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **gasp** | past | what dreadful thing | Grandma |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandma=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I feel dreadful; I think I have flu.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x5:1
# text = I feel dreadful; I think I have flu.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | I |  |  |  |  | dreadful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present | I | flu |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flu=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The food at the café was dreadful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x6:1
# text = The food at the café was dreadful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the food at the café |  |  |  |  | dreadful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dreadful storm blew trees down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x7:1
# text = The dreadful storm blew trees down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow down** | past | the dreadful storm | trees |  |  |  | down *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This was a very dreadful disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreadful:x8:1
# text = This was a very dreadful disaster.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	dreadful	dreadful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | This | a dreadful disaster |  |  |  |  | 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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