---
title: ironic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ironic» in the school dictionary: Strange or funny because it is the opposite of what you would expect, as in «It's ironic that the fire station burned down». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ironic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, you, opposite, swimming teacher, he, voice · **What happens:** be, expect, burn down, say, mean, rain · **To what, where:** opposite, fire station, ironic voice, him, us, ironic twist · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strange or funny because it is the opposite of what you would expect, as in «It's ironic that the fire station burned down».

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:m1:1
# text = Strange or funny because it is the opposite of what you would expect, as in «It's ironic that the fire station burned down».
1	Strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	expect	expect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
21	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj:pass	_	_
25	burned	burn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	advcl	_	_
26	down	down	ADP	RP	_	25	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | it | the opposite |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **expect** | would | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | opposite |  |  |  |  | ironic *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **burn down** *in a quote* | participle · passive |  | the fire station |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying the opposite of what you mean as a joke, as in an ironic «Great weather!» when it rains.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:m2:1
# text = Saying the opposite of what you mean as a joke, as in an ironic «Great weather!» when it rains.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	23	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
15	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
21	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	23	mark	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	rains	rain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | the opposite |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent opposite=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present | you |  |  |  |  | as a joke | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as joke=Attribute |
| 3 | **rain** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's ironic that the swimming teacher can't swim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x1:1
# text = It's ironic that the swimming teacher can't swim.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | ironic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **swim** | can | the swimming teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Lovely day,» he said in an ironic voice as it poured.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x2:1
# text = «Lovely day,» he said in an ironic voice as it poured.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  | a ironic voice | day |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |
| 2 | **pour** | past | voice |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was ironic that the alarm clock made him late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x3:1
# text = It was ironic that the alarm clock made him late.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | ironic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past | the alarm clock | him *= he* |  |  |  | late *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material he=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her ironic comment made us laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x4:1
# text = Her ironic comment made us laugh.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	comment	comment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her ironic comment | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **comment** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom comment «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story ends in an ironic twist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x5:1
# text = The story ends in an ironic twist.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	twist	twist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | the story |  |  | a ironic twist |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's ironic that the «No Litter» sign was lying on the ground.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ironic:x6:1
# text = It's ironic that the «No Litter» sign was lying on the ground.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ironic	ironic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	Litter	Litter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | ironic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lie** | past · progressive | the Litter sign |  |  | the ground |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on ground=Location |

<!-- 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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