---
title: involuntarily — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «involuntarily» in the school dictionary: Involuntarily means without meaning to, without choosing to, as when your body does something by itself. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# involuntarily

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** body, She, ball, He, heart, you · **What happens:** mean, choose, do, blink, come, shiver · **To what, where:** something, cold wind, silly face, workers, office, him

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Involuntarily means without meaning to, without choosing to, as when your body does something by itself.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:m1:1
# text = Involuntarily means without meaning to, without choosing to, as when your body does something by itself.
1	Involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
9	to	too	ADV	RB	Typo=Yes	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	15	mark	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | involuntarily *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **choose** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | present | your body | something |  |  |  | by body | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Involuntarily can mean against your will, when someone else forces it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:m2:1
# text = Involuntarily can mean against your will, when someone else forces it.
1	Involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	forces	force	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | involuntarily *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She blinked involuntarily when the ball came near.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x1:1
# text = She blinked involuntarily when the ball came near.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	blinked	blink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	near	near	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blink** | past | She |  |  |  |  | involuntarily *property* | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come** | past | the ball |  |  |  |  | near *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He shivered involuntarily in the cold wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x2:1
# text = He shivered involuntarily in the cold wind.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shivered	shiver	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	wind	wind	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 | **shiver** | past | He |  |  | the cold wind |  | involuntarily *property* | vn body\_internal\_states-40.6 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your heart beats involuntarily, even when you sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x3:1
# text = Your heart beats involuntarily, even when you sleep.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	beats	beat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | present | Your heart |  |  |  |  | involuntarily *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sleep** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I laughed involuntarily at the silly face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x4:1
# text = I laughed involuntarily at the silly face.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	face	face	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 | **laugh** | past | I |  |  | the silly face |  | involuntarily *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some workers were involuntarily moved to another office.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x5:1
# text = Some workers were involuntarily moved to another office.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	moved	move	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past · passive |  | some workers |  | another office |  | involuntarily *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: subject=Theme to office=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He flinched involuntarily at the loud bang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x6:1
# text = He flinched involuntarily at the loud bang.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flinched	flinch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bang	bang	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 | **flinch** | past | He |  |  |  |  | at the loud bang; involuntarily *property* | vn flinch-40.5 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer at bang=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently that he involuntarily put it in the water.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:involuntarily:x7:1
# text = As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently that he involuntarily put it in the water.
1	As	as	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	violently	violently	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	involuntarily	involuntarily	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past · progressive | he |  |  |  |  | thus *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hurt** | past | his finger | him *= he* |  |  |  | violently *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Patient |
| 3 | **put** | past | finger | it |  | the water |  | involuntarily *property* | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme in water=Destination |

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