---
title: erratic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «erratic» in the school dictionary: Not regular or steady; changing suddenly in a way you cannot predict. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# erratic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, car, results, we, Our, erratic running · **What happens:** change, not predict, carry, leave, not find, type · **To what, where:** way, large boulder, place, type, rock, erratic way

<!-- .vabout -->
«erratic» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [erratic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/erratic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not regular or steady; changing suddenly in a way you cannot predict.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:m1:1
# text = Not regular or steady; changing suddenly in a way you cannot predict.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	changing	change	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	predict	predict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  | a way |  | suddenly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **predict** | can | you | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot way=Topic |

<!-- .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: geology, noun: an erratic — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large boulder carried far by a glacier and left in a place where that type of rock is not normally found.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:m2:1
# text = A large boulder carried far by a glacier and left in a place where that type of rock is not normally found.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boulder	boulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	glacier	glacier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	22	advmod	_	_
15	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	_
16	type	type	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
21	normally	normally	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | participle |  | a large boulder *not said here* |  |  |  | by a glacier; far *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | in a place *result* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in place=Result |
| 3 | **not** **find** | present · passive |  | that type of rock |  |  |  | normally *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 4 | **type** |  |  | rock |  |  |  |  | nom type «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car moved in an erratic way across the lanes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x1:1
# text = The car moved in an erratic way across the lanes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	across	across	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lanes	lane	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | the car |  |  | a erratic way |  | across the lanes | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme in way=Source across lane=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our results were erratic, so we repeated the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x2:1
# text = Our results were erratic, so we repeated the test.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Our results |  |  |  |  | erratic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **repeat** | past | we | the test |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Eventuality |
| 3 | **result** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom result «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy's erratic running made us laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x3:1
# text = The puppy's erratic running made us laugh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	running	running	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the puppy's erratic running | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **run** |  | the puppy |  |  |  |  |  | nom running «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Wi-Fi is erratic: it keeps cutting out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x4:1
# text = The Wi-Fi is erratic: it keeps cutting out.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Wi	Wi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Fi	fi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
10	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the Wi Fi |  |  |  |  | erratic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | Fi |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cut out** | gerund | Fi *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His erratic moods confused his friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x5:1
# text = His erratic moods confused his friends.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	moods	mood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	confused	confuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confuse** | past | His erratic moods | his friends |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A huge erratic boulder sits alone in the field, left by a glacier.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:erratic:x6:1
# text = A huge erratic boulder sits alone in the field, left by a glacier.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	erratic	erratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	boulder	boulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	alone	alone	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	glacier	glacier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present | a huge erratic boulder |  |  | the field |  | alone *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in field=Location |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | the field *not said here* |  |  |  | by a glacier | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent by glacier=Location |

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**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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