---
title: nervous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nervous» in the school dictionary: Nervous means feeling worried or a little scared about something that is going to happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nervous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Nervous, nervous system, spinal cord, I, my, new boy · **What happens:** mean, feel, go, happen, be, carry · **To what, where:** nervous person, brain, messages, body, nervous laugh, tree · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nervous» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [nervous in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nervous.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nervous means feeling worried or a little scared about something that is going to happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:m1:1
# text = Nervous means feeling worried or a little scared about something that is going to happen.
1	Nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Nervous |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **feel** *not said to happen* | gerund | Nervous *not said here* |  |  |  |  | worried *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **go** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **happen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
A nervous person or animal is easily frightened or upset.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:m2:1
# text = A nervous person or animal is easily frightened or upset.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present · passive |  | a nervous person or animal |  |  |  | easily, frightened *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nervous system is the brain, spinal cord and nerves that carry messages around the body.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:m3:1
# text = The nervous system is the brain, spinal cord and nerves that carry messages around the body.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	spinal	spinal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	cord	cord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	nerves	nerve	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	around	around	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the nervous system | the brain and spinal cord and nerves |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | present | spinal cord and nerves | messages |  | the body |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I feel nervous about my test tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x1:1
# text = I feel nervous about my test tomorrow.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | I |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **test** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new boy was nervous on his first day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x2:1
# text = The new boy was nervous on his first day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Horses get nervous in thunderstorms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x3:1
# text = Horses get nervous in thunderstorms.
1	Horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	thunderstorms	thunderstorm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Horses |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a nervous laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x4:1
# text = She gave a nervous laugh.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a nervous laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nervous system carries messages from the brain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x5:1
# text = The nervous system carries messages from the brain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	brain	brain	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 | **carry** | present | the nervous system | messages |  | the brain |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent message=Theme from brain=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's normal to feel nervous before a race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x6:1
# text = It's normal to feel nervous before a race.
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	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | normal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With a little trouble he found the tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into it.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nervous:x7:1
# text = With a little trouble he found the tree the doctor had described, and, feeling nervous, he climbed up into it.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	described	describe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	advcl	_	_
17	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
19	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
21	up	up	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
22	into	into	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | he |  |  |  |  | with a little trouble | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **describe** | past · perfect · passive |  | the tree |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **feel** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **climb up** | past | he |  |  | doctor |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into it=Destination |

<!-- 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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