---
title: gingerly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gingerly» in the school dictionary: Very carefully and slowly, because you are afraid of hurting yourself or breaking something, or of what might happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gingerly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, He, Mole, Alice, vet · **What happens:** be, hurt, break, happen, step, freeze · **To what, where:** yourself, something, frozen pond, bruised knee, boat, bottle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very carefully and slowly, because you are afraid of hurting yourself or breaking something, or of what might happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:m1:1
# text = Very carefully and slowly, because you are afraid of hurting yourself or breaking something, or of what might happen.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	21	nsubj	_	_
20	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | afraid, carefully *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | gerund | you *not said here* | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer yourself=Patient |
| 3 | **break** | gerund | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Patient |
| 4 | **happen** | might |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stepped gingerly onto the frozen pond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x1:1
# text = She stepped gingerly onto the frozen pond.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stepped	step	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	frozen	freeze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **step** | past | She |  |  | the frozen pond |  | gingerly *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto pond=Trajectory |
| 2 | **freeze** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He touched his bruised knee gingerly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x2:1
# text = He touched his bruised knee gingerly.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	touched	touch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bruised	bruise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **touch** | past | He | his bruised knee |  |  |  | gingerly *property* | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme knee=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **bruise** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole climbed gingerly into the boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x3:1
# text = Mole climbed gingerly into the boat.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | Mole |  |  | the boat |  | gingerly *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into boat=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice picked up the bottle gingerly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x4:1
# text = Alice picked up the bottle gingerly.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	picked	pick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick up** | past | Alice | the bottle |  |  |  | gingerly *property* | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bottle=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vet lifted the hurt puppy gingerly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x5:1
# text = The vet lifted the hurt puppy gingerly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | the vet | the hurt puppy |  |  |  | gingerly *property* | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppy=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We walked gingerly across the wobbly bridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x6:1
# text = We walked gingerly across the wobbly bridge.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | We |  |  | the wobbly bridge |  | gingerly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across bridge=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gingerly opened the box to see what was inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x7:1
# text = He gingerly opened the box to see what was inside.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	opened	open	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	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | He | the box |  |  |  | gingerly *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location box=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | inside *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He held it gingerly for a few moments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gingerly:x8:1
# text = He held it gingerly for a few moments.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	gingerly	gingerly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	moments	moment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | He | it |  |  | moment | gingerly *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

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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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