---
title: messy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «messy» in the school dictionary: Untidy or dirty: «a messy room». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# messy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** room, Painting, Spaghetti, handwriting, His, baby · **What happens:** make, be, wear, read, handwrite, trip · **To what, where:** things, apron, messy food, messy eater, people, Bell part

<!-- .vabout -->
«messy» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [messy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/messy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Untidy or dirty: «a messy room».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:m1:1
# text = Untidy or dirty: «a messy room».
1	Untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making things dirty or untidy: «a messy job like painting».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:m2:1
# text = Making things dirty or untidy: «a messy job like painting».
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | things |  |  |  | a messy job like painting *obl*; dirty *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset thing=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Complicated and unpleasant: «a messy argument».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:m3:1
# text = Complicated and unpleasant: «a messy argument».
1	Complicated	complicated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My room is very messy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x1:1
# text = My room is very messy.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My room |  |  |  |  | messy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Painting is messy, so wear an apron.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x2:1
# text = Painting is messy, so wear an apron.
1	Painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	apron	apron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Painting |  |  |  |  | messy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | infinitive |  | a apron |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent apron=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spaghetti is a messy food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x3:1
# text = Spaghetti is a messy food.
1	Spaghetti	spaghetti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spaghetti | a messy food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His handwriting is too messy to read.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x4:1
# text = His handwriting is too messy to read.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His handwriting |  |  |  |  | messy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **read** | to-infinitive | His handwriting *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **handwrite** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom handwriting «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby is a messy eater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x5:1
# text = The baby is a messy eater.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	eater	eater	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** | present | the baby | a messy eater |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toys on a messy floor can make people trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x6:1
# text = Toys on a messy floor can make people trip.
1	Toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	trip	trip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Toys on a messy floor | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trip** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The end of their friendship was messy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x7:1
# text = The end of their friendship was messy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the end of their friendship |  |  |  |  | messy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had carried Tinker Bell part of the way, and his hand was still messy with the fairy dust.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:messy:x8:1
# text = He had carried Tinker Bell part of the way, and his hand was still messy with the fairy dust.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	Tinker	Tinker	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Bell	Bell	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	still	still	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	fairy	fairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past · perfect | He | Bell part of the way |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | his hand |  |  |  | still | with the fairy dust; messy *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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