---
title: plaintive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plaintive» in the school dictionary: Sounding sad, like someone complaining or crying softly: «a plaintive cry». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# plaintive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, lost kitten, We, seagull, Ratty, plaintive call · **What happens:** sound, complain, cry, ask, lose, give · **To what, where:** plaintive mew, plaintive cry, plaintive song, plaintive whine, door, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«plaintive» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [plaintive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/plaintive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sounding sad, like someone complaining or crying softly: «a plaintive cry».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:m1:1
# text = Sounding sad, like someone complaining or crying softly: «a plaintive cry».
1	Sounding	sound	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	csubj	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	complaining	complain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
9	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **complain** *speech: other* | gerund | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sad and gentle, asking for pity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:m2:1
# text = Sad and gentle, asking for pity.
1	Sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pity	pity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for pity | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lost kitten gave a plaintive mew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x1:1
# text = The lost kitten gave a plaintive mew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	mew	mew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | past | the lost kitten | a plaintive mew |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mew=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard the plaintive cry of a seagull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x2:1
# text = We heard the plaintive cry of a seagull.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	seagull	seagull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | the plaintive cry of a seagull |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer cry=Stimulus |
| 2 | **cry** |  | a seagull |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ratty, please come back!» came the Mole's plaintive call.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x3:1
# text = «Ratty, please come back!» came the Mole's plaintive call.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ratty	Ratty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	parataxis	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** *in a quote* | infinitive | Ratty |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | the Mole's plaintive call |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **call** |  | the Mole |  |  |  |  |  | nom call «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sang a plaintive song about home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x4:1
# text = She sang a plaintive song about home.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sang	sing	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	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | She | a plaintive song |  |  |  | about home | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog gave a plaintive whine at the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x5:1
# text = The dog gave a plaintive whine at the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	whine	whine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the dog | a plaintive whine |  | the door |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent whine=Theme at door=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His plaintive voice made us feel sorry for him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x6:1
# text = His plaintive voice made us feel sorry for him.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His plaintive voice | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wendy was now almost overhead, and they could hear her plaintive cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plaintive:x7:1
# text = Wendy was now almost overhead, and they could hear her plaintive cry.
1	Wendy	Wendy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
4	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	overhead	overhead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	plaintive	plaintive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Wendy |  |  |  | now | almost, overhead *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hear** | could | they | Wendy's plaintive cry |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer cry=Stimulus |
| 3 | **cry** |  | Wendy |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

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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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