---
title: oddball — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oddball» in the school dictionary: A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oddball/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/) / oddball

# oddball

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, uncle, he, She, film, oddballs · **What happens:** behave, be, have, paint, become, not call · **To what, where:** strange way, bit, great fun, oddball idea, shed purple, group · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:m1:1
# text = A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | present | a person |  |  | a strange way |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: informal, adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strange or unusual: an oddball idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:m2:1
# text = Strange or unusual: an oddball idea.
1	Strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	oddball	oddball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle is a bit of an oddball, but he is great fun.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x1:1
# text = My uncle is a bit of an oddball, but he is great fun.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	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	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	oddball	oddball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My uncle | a bit but great fun |  |  |  | of a oddball | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | he | great fun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had an oddball idea to paint the shed purple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x2:1
# text = She had an oddball idea to paint the shed purple.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	oddball	oddball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	paint	paint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	purple	purple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a oddball idea |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |
| 2 | **paint** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the shed purple |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent purple=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film is about a group of oddballs who become friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x3:1
# text = The film is about a group of oddballs who become friends.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	oddballs	oddball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	become	become	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the film | a group |  |  |  | of oddballs; about *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **become** | present | oddballs | friends |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't call him an oddball; everyone is different.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x4:1
# text = Don't call him an oddball; everyone is different.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	oddball	oddball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **call** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | everyone |  |  |  |  | different *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's an oddball little shop full of old toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x5:1
# text = It's an oddball little shop full of old toys.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	oddball	oddball	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class oddball turned out to be brilliant at chess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oddball:x6:1
# text = The class oddball turned out to be brilliant at chess.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	oddball	oddball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	brilliant	brilliant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn out** | past | the class oddball |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | the class oddball *not said here* |  |  | chess |  | brilliant *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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [odd](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/odd/)
- next →: [oddity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oddity/)
- ↑ back to [O in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/)