---
title: inconstant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inconstant» in the school dictionary: Changing often; not loyal or faithful: an inconstant friend. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inconstant

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**Who acts:** inconstant wind, moon, He, inconstant friend, someone, Spring weather · **What happens:** change, keep, call, be, forget, come along · **To what, where:** amount, direction, moon, poem, shape, inconstant friend · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«inconstant» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [inconstant in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/inconstant.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Changing often; not loyal or faithful: an inconstant friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:m1:1
# text = Changing often; not loyal or faithful: an inconstant friend.
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	loyal	loyal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	faithful	faithful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not steady; changing in amount or strength: an inconstant wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:m2:1
# text = Not steady; changing in amount or strength: an inconstant wind.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	changing	change	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  | amount or strength |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The inconstant wind kept changing direction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x1:1
# text = The inconstant wind kept changing direction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the inconstant wind |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | gerund | the inconstant wind *not said here* | direction |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent direction=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the poem, the moon is called inconstant because it changes shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x2:1
# text = In the poem, the moon is called inconstant because it changes shape.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
13	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the moon |  | the poem |  | inconstant *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **change** | present | moon | shape |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was an inconstant friend who forgot us when someone new came along.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x3:1
# text = He was an inconstant friend who forgot us when someone new came along.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
11	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
12	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
13	along	along	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | a inconstant friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | past | a inconstant friend | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come along** | past | someone |  |  |  |  | along *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spring weather in Ireland is inconstant: sun, then rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x4:1
# text = Spring weather in Ireland is inconstant: sun, then rain.
1	Spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
11	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Spring weather in Ireland |  |  |  |  | inconstant *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The candle's inconstant flame flickered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x5:1
# text = The candle's inconstant flame flickered.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	candle	candle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	flickered	flicker	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flicker** | participle |  | the candle's inconstant flame *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **flame** |  | the candle |  |  |  |  |  | nom flame «process intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old song warned of an inconstant heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inconstant:x6:1
# text = The old song warned of an inconstant heart.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	warned	warn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	inconstant	inconstant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | past | the old song |  |  |  |  | of a inconstant heart | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP PP.topic»: agent=Agent of heart=Topic |

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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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