---
title: flatly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flatly» in the school dictionary: Flatly means completely and firmly, with no doubt. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flatly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dull flat voice, She, He, boy, I, team · **What happens:** mean, feel, refuse, not eat, deny, break · **To what, where:** sprouts, window, idea, no, second dog, distaff · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flatly means completely and firmly, with no doubt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:m1:1
# text = Flatly means completely and firmly, with no doubt.
1	Flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with no doubt; completely, flatly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"She flatly refused."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:m1e:1
# text = "She flatly refused."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** *in a quote* | past | She |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flatly means in a dull, flat voice without feeling or expression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:m2:1
# text = Flatly means in a dull, flat voice without feeling or expression.
1	Flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a dull flat voice; flatly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in voice=Attribute |
| 2 | **feel** | gerund | a dull flat voice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He flatly refused to eat the sprouts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x1:1
# text = He flatly refused to eat the sprouts.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sprouts	sprout	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | He |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **eat** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the sprouts |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sprout=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy flatly denied breaking the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x2:1
# text = The boy flatly denied breaking the window.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	denied	deny	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | past | the boy |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | gerund | the boy *not said here* | the window |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer window=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I don't care," she said flatly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x3:1
# text = "I don't care," she said flatly.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **care** *in a quote* | present · do-support | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team flatly rejected the idea of cheating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x4:1
# text = The team flatly rejected the idea of cheating.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	rejected	reject	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reject** | past | the team | the idea of cheating |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn reject-77.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spoke flatly, as if he were very tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x5:1
# text = He spoke flatly, as if he were very tired.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | he |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum flatly said no to a second dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x6:1
# text = Mum flatly said no to a second dog.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum | no | a second dog |  |  | flatly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent no=Topic to dog=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the queen—or, rather, the swineherd’s daughter—heard of this, she very much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly refused to give it to her.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flatly:x7:1
# text = When the queen—or, rather, the swineherd’s daughter—heard of this, she very much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly refused to give it to her.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	swineherd	swineherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	’s	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	daughter	daughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	much	much	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	wished	wish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	distaff	distaff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
27	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nsubj	_	_
30	flatly	flatly	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	_
31	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
32	to	to	PART	TO	_	33	mark	_	_
33	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	31	xcomp	_	_
34	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	33	obj	_	_
35	to	to	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
36	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	33	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | the swineherd's daughter *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of this | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer of this=Stimulus |
| 2 | **wish** | participle | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | she *not said here* | the distaff |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent distaff=Patient |
| 4 | **refuse** | past | the girl |  |  |  |  | flatly *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **give** | to-infinitive | the girl *not said here* | distaff | girl |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Theme to she=Recipient |

<!-- 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 -->
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