---
title: flaw — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flaw» in the school dictionary: A flaw is a small mark, crack or fault that spoils something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flaw

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flaw, fault, small flaw, you, only flaw, His · **What happens:** be, spoil, find, flaw, have, look · **To what, where:** small mark, something, weakness, flaw, argument, one big flaw

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flaw is a small mark, crack or fault that spoils something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:m1:1
# text = A flaw is a small mark, crack or fault that spoils something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flaw	flaw	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	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	crack	crack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	spoils	spoil	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flaw | a small mark and crack or fault |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spoil** | present | fault | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 flaw is a weakness or mistake in a plan, an argument or a person's character.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:m2:1
# text = A flaw is a weakness or mistake in a plan, an argument or a person's character.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flaw	flaw	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	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flaw | a weakness or mistake in a plan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a small flaw in the glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x1:1
# text = There's a small flaw in the glass.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	flaw	flaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a small flaw in the glass |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you find the flaw in this argument?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x2:1
# text = Can you find the flaw in this argument?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flaw	flaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	argument	argument	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 | **find** | can | you | the flaw |  | this argument |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flaw=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His only flaw is that he is always late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x3:1
# text = His only flaw is that he is always late.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	flaw	flaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:outer	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His only flaw |  |  |  |  | always, late *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **flaw** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom flaw «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan had one big flaw: nobody had the key.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x4:1
# text = The plan had one big flaw: nobody had the key.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	flaw	flaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the plan | one big flaw |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flaw=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | past | nobody | the key |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jeweller looked for flaws in the diamond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x5:1
# text = The jeweller looked for flaws in the diamond.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jeweller	jeweller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	flaws	flaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	diamond	diamond	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 | **look** | past | the jeweller |  |  | the diamond |  | for flaws | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for flaw=Theme in diamond=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flaw in the experiment was that we did not keep it fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x6:1
# text = The flaw in the experiment was that we did not keep it fair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flaw	flaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past · do-support | the flaw in the experiment |  |  |  |  | fair, keep *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone has flaws, and that's all right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flaw:x7:1
# text = Everyone has flaws, and that's all right.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flaws	flaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	all	all	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Everyone | flaws |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flaw=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | that |  |  |  |  | all, right *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 -->

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