---
title: dreary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dreary» in the school dictionary: Dreary means dull, grey and making you feel sad or bored, like a wet, cloudy day. 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/D/dreary/)

<!-- 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/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / dreary

# dreary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dreary, you, dreary job, It, dreary grey sky, spellings · **What happens:** mean, make, feel, be, have, copy out · **To what, where:** nothing, everyone, house

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dreary means dull, grey and making you feel sad or bored, like a wet, cloudy day.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:m1:1
# text = Dreary means dull, grey and making you feel sad or bored, like a wet, cloudy day.
1	Dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	cloudy	cloudy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Dreary |  |  |  |  | dull *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | gerund | Dreary *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive | you |  |  |  | day | sad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=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 -->
A dreary job, book or talk is boring and has nothing exciting in it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:m2:1
# text = A dreary job, book or talk is boring and has nothing exciting in it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	11	obj	_	_
13	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a dreary job and book or talk |  |  |  |  | boring *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a dreary job and book or talk *not said here* | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a dreary, drizzly Monday morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x1:1
# text = It was a dreary, drizzly Monday morning.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	drizzly	drizzly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  | morning | dreary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dreary grey sky made everyone sleepy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x2:1
# text = The dreary grey sky made everyone sleepy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	_
7	sleepy	sleepy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the dreary grey sky | everyone |  |  |  | sleepy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset everyone=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Copying out spellings felt like a dreary job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x3:1
# text = Copying out spellings felt like a dreary job.
1	Copying	copy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	spellings	spelling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy out** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **feel** | past | spellings |  |  |  |  | like a dreary job | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like job=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The house looked dreary until we painted it yellow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x4:1
# text = The house looked dreary until we painted it yellow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the house |  |  |  |  | dreary *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **paint** | past | we | house |  |  |  | yellow *property* | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The speech was long and dreary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x5:1
# text = The speech was long and dreary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	dreary	dreary	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** | past | the speech |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the speech *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We cheered up a dreary afternoon with a board game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x6:1
# text = We cheered up a dreary afternoon with a board game.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cheered	cheer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheer up** | past | We |  |  |  | afternoon |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oh, indeed those long winter days were very dreary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dreary:x7:1
# text = Oh, indeed those long winter days were very dreary.
1	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
4	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	dreary	dreary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | that long winter days |  |  |  |  | dreary, indeed *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: [dreamy](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dreamy/)
- next →: [dregs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dregs/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)