---
title: expletive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «expletive» in the school dictionary: An expletive is a swear word or rude exclamation, said when angry, hurt or surprised. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# expletive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** expletive, that, It, He, newspaper, you · **What happens:** be, say, hurt, surprise, fill, mean · **To what, where:** swear word, word, place, sentence, cat, hammer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An expletive is a swear word or rude exclamation, said when angry, hurt or surprised.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:m1:1
# text = An expletive is a swear word or rude exclamation, said when angry, hurt or surprised.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	swear	swear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	exclamation	exclamation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
12	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
13	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	ccomp	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	surprised	surprise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a expletive | a swear word or rude exclamation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hurt** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **surprise** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An expletive is a word like «it» or «there» that fills a place in a sentence without meaning, as in «There is a cat» or «It is raining».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:m2:1
# text = An expletive is a word like «it» or «there» that fills a place in a sentence without meaning, as in «There is a cat» or «It is raining».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	fills	fill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
21	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
22	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
24	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	28	mark	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	fixed	_	_
26	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	28	expl	_	_
28	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	cop	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	_
32	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
33	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	36	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	36	nsubj	_	_
35	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	36	aux	_	_
36	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	36	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a expletive | a word |  |  |  | like word | tree rules |
| 2 | **fill** | present | that | a place |  | a sentence |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent place=Patient |
| 3 | **mean** | gerund | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | a cat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **rain** *in a quote* | present · progressive | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He dropped the hammer on his toe and let out an expletive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x1:1
# text = He dropped the hammer on his toe and let out an expletive.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	toe	toe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | He | the hammer |  | his toe |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent hammer=Theme on toe=Destination |
| 2 | **let out** | infinitive | He *not said here* | a expletive |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expletive=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper replaced the expletive with stars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x2:1
# text = The newspaper replaced the expletive with stars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	replaced	replace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **replace** | past | the newspaper | the expletive |  |  |  | with stars | vn substitute-13.6.2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme expletive=Location with star=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't use expletives in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x3:1
# text = Please don't use expletives in class.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	expletives	expletive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **use** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | expletives |  | class |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expletive=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A string of expletives came from the angry driver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x4:1
# text = A string of expletives came from the angry driver.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	expletives	expletive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a string of expletives |  |  |  |  | from the angry driver | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from driver=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In «It is snowing», «it» is an expletive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x5:1
# text = In «It is snowing», «it» is an expletive.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	snowing	snow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snow** *in a quote* | present · progressive | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | a expletive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach shouted an expletive when the ball missed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expletive:x6:1
# text = The coach shouted an expletive when the ball missed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	expletive	expletive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	missed	miss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the coach | a expletive |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expletive=Topic |
| 2 | **miss** | past | the ball |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

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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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