---
title: nightmare — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nightmare» in the school dictionary: A frightening or very upsetting dream. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nightmare

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, She, Scary films, Getting, Dad, traffic · **What happens:** have, wake up, scream, give, get, be · **To what, where:** nightmare, nightmares, me, snow, total nightmare, dreams · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nightmare» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [nightmare in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nightmare.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A frightening or very upsetting dream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:m1:1
# text = A frightening or very upsetting dream.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	upsetting	upsetting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
6	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very difficult or unpleasant situation or experience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:m2:1
# text = A very difficult or unpleasant situation or experience.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a nightmare about a giant spider.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x1:1
# text = I had a nightmare about a giant spider.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a nightmare |  |  |  | about a giant spider | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nightmare=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She woke up screaming from a nightmare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x2:1
# text = She woke up screaming from a nightmare.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	woke	wake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	screaming	scream	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wake up** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **scream** *speech: express* | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  | a nightmare |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scary films give me nightmares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x3:1
# text = Scary films give me nightmares.
1	Scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	nightmares	nightmare	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Scary films | nightmares | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient nightmare=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Getting home in the snow was a nightmare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x4:1
# text = Getting home in the snow was a nightmare.
1	Getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	home	home	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  | the snow |  | home *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Getting | a nightmare |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad said the traffic was a total nightmare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x5:1
# text = Dad said the traffic was a total nightmare.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the traffic | a total nightmare |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a nightmare, a hug from Mum helps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x6:1
# text = After a nightmare, a hug from Mum helps.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hug	hug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | a hug from Mum |  |  |  | after a nightmare |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nightmares can feel real, but they are only dreams.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x7:1
# text = Nightmares can feel real, but they are only dreams.
1	Nightmares	nightmare	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	dreams	dream	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Losing the tickets would be a nightmare!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x8:1
# text = Losing the tickets would be a nightmare!
1	Losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund |  | the tickets |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ticket=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | would | Losing | a nightmare |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thought he had a nightmare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nightmare:x9:1
# text = He thought he had a nightmare.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nightmare	nightmare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | past | he | a nightmare |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nightmare=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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