---
title: letdown — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «letdown» in the school dictionary: A letdown is a disappointment, something that was not as good as you hoped. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# letdown

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** letdown, you, ending, fireworks, It, new game · **What happens:** be, not be, hope, let down, not do, promise · **To what, where:** disappointment, someone, real letdown, film, letdown, trip

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A letdown is a disappointment, something that was not as good as you hoped.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:m1:1
# text = A letdown is a disappointment, something that was not as good as you hoped.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	disappointment	disappointment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	appos	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	as	as	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	hoped	hope	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a letdown | a disappointment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hope** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To let someone down is to disappoint them by not doing what you promised.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:m2:1
# text = To let someone down is to disappoint them by not doing what you promised.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	disappoint	disappoint	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let down** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | disappoint *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 4 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ending of the film was a real letdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x1:1
# text = The ending of the film was a real letdown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the ending of the film | a real letdown |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** |  |  | the film |  |  |  |  | nom ending «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After all the waiting, the fireworks were a letdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x2:1
# text = After all the waiting, the fireworks were a letdown.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	waiting	waiting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the fireworks | a letdown |  |  | after all waiting |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a letdown when the trip was cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x3:1
# text = It was a letdown when the trip was cancelled.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a letdown |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | the trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let your team down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x4:1
# text = Don't let your team down.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let down** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your team |  |  |  | down *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent team=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new game was a letdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x5:1
# text = The new game was a letdown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the new game | a letdown |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What a letdown — the pool was closed!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letdown:x6:1
# text = What a letdown — the pool was closed!
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det:predet	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	letdown	letdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | past · passive |  | what letdown |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- 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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