---
title: patchy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «patchy» in the school dictionary: Patchy means appearing in some places but not others, in uneven patches, like patchy fog or patchy grass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# patchy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Patchy, patchy rain, phone signal, lawn, knowledge, Patchy fog · **What happens:** mean, appear, be, make, drive, look · **To what, where:** places, countryside, second coat

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Patchy means appearing in some places but not others, in uneven patches, like patchy fog or patchy grass.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:m1:1
# text = Patchy means appearing in some places but not others, in uneven patches, like patchy fog or patchy grass.
1	Patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	appearing	appear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	uneven	uneven	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	patches	patch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Patchy |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **appear** *not said to happen* | gerund | Patchy *not said here* |  |  | some places but others |  | in uneven patches like patchy fog or patchy grass | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Patchy means not complete or not good everywhere — some parts good, some poor, as in patchy knowledge.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:m2:1
# text = Patchy means not complete or not good everywhere — some parts good, some poor, as in patchy knowledge.
1	Patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	15	det	_	_
15	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Patchy |  |  |  |  | complete *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There will be patchy rain this afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x1:1
# text = There will be patchy rain this afternoon.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | future | patchy rain |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The phone signal is patchy in the countryside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x2:1
# text = The phone signal is patchy in the countryside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	countryside	countryside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the phone signal |  |  | the countryside |  | patchy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lawn was patchy after the dry summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x3:1
# text = The lawn was patchy after the dry summer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lawn	lawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	summer	summer	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 | **is** | past | the lawn |  |  |  | summer | patchy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His knowledge of the times tables is still patchy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x4:1
# text = His knowledge of the times tables is still patchy.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
6	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	still	still	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His knowledge of the times tables |  |  |  | still | patchy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Patchy fog made driving slow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x5:1
# text = Patchy fog made driving slow.
1	Patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	driving	drive	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Patchy fog |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drive** | gerund | Patchy fog *not said here* |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The paint job looked patchy, so Dad did a second coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:patchy:x6:1
# text = The paint job looked patchy, so Dad did a second coat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	patchy	patchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the paint job |  |  |  |  | patchy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **do** | past | Dad | a second coat |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Eventuality |

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**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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