---
title: fearful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fearful» in the school dictionary: Fearful means afraid or worried that something bad will happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fearful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fearful, something, fearful puppy, She, They, bridge · **What happens:** mean, happen, hide, be, break, give · **To what, where:** bed, fearful glance, old house, angel, fearful shepherds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fearful means afraid or worried that something bad will happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:m1:1
# text = Fearful means afraid or worried that something bad will happen.
1	Fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fearful |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **happen** | future | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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: old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fearful means frightening or terrible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:m2:1
# text = Fearful means frightening or terrible.
1	Fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fearful |  |  |  |  | frightening *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fearful can mean very great or very bad: «a fearful mess».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:m3:1
# text = Fearful can mean very great or very bad: «a fearful mess».
1	Fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Fearful |  |  |  |  | great *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fearful puppy hid under the bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x1:1
# text = The fearful puppy hid under the bed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bed	bed	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 | **hide** | past | the fearful puppy |  |  | the bed |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under bed=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was fearful of the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x2:1
# text = She was fearful of the dark.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | of the dark; fearful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were fearful that the bridge would break.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x3:1
# text = They were fearful that the bridge would break.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | They |  |  |  |  | fearful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | would | the bridge |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children gave a fearful glance at the old house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x4:1
# text = The children gave a fearful glance at the old house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	glance	glance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the children | a fearful glance |  | the old house |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent glance=Theme at house=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a fearful storm that night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x5:1
# text = There was a fearful storm that night.
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	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a fearful storm |  |  | there | night |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be fearful — I'm here.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x6:1
# text = Don't be fearful — I'm here.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | fearful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Fear not,» said the angel to the fearful shepherds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x7:1
# text = «Fear not,» said the angel to the fearful shepherds.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	shepherds	shepherd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Fear | the angel | the fearful shepherds |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent angel=Topic to shepherd=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Things!” he said. “Fearful and horrible, Billy!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* “Things!” he said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x8:1
# text = “Things!” he said.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Things |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* “Fearful and horrible, Billy!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fearful:x8:2
# text = “Fearful and horrible, Billy!
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Fearful	fearful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	horrible	horrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

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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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