---
title: harshness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «harshness» in the school dictionary: Being unkind, strict or cruel: the harshness of the punishment. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# harshness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** harshness, She, her · **What happens:** be, live in, make, shock, adapt, hurt · **To what, where:** life, We, little boy cry, Camels, harshness, eyes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«harshness» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [harshness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/harshness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being unkind, strict or cruel: the harshness of the punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:m1:1
# text = Being unkind, strict or cruel: the harshness of the punishment.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Being rough and unpleasant to the senses: the harshness of a sound, a light or a taste.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:m2:1
# text = Being rough and unpleasant to the senses: the harshness of a sound, a light or a taste.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	senses	sens	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	taste	taste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | rough *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | to the senses | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being very difficult to live in: the harshness of the desert or the Arctic winter.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:m3:1
# text = Being very difficult to live in: the harshness of the desert or the Arctic winter.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	Arctic	arctic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **live in** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The harshness of the Arctic winter makes life hard for animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x1:1
# text = The harshness of the Arctic winter makes life hard for animals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Arctic	Arctic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the harshness of the Arctic winter | life |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset life=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were shocked by the harshness of the punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x2:1
# text = We were shocked by the harshness of the punishment.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	shocked	shock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shock** | past · passive | the harshness of the punishment | We |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The harshness in his voice made the little boy cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x3:1
# text = The harshness in his voice made the little boy cry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the harshness in harshness's voice | the little boy cry |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset cry=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Camels are adapted to the harshness of the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x4:1
# text = Camels are adapted to the harshness of the desert.
1	Camels	camel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	adapted	adapt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adapt** | present · passive |  | Camels |  |  |  | to the harshness of the desert *goal* | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP PP»: subject=Patient to harshness=Goal |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bright light's harshness hurt my eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x5:1
# text = The bright light's harshness hurt my eyes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | past | the bright light's harshness | my eyes |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer eye=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She said sorry for the harshness of her words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:harshness:x6:1
# text = She said sorry for the harshness of her words.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	harshness	harshness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | She |  |  |  |  | for the harshness of her words; sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **word** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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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.

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