---
title: scandal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scandal» in the school dictionary: A scandal is something wrong or shameful that people find out about and are shocked by, such as a famous person lying or cheating. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scandal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** scandal, people, famous person, It, something, park · **What happens:** be, find out, shock, lie, cheat, mean · **To what, where:** something, Scandal talk, scandal, front page, footballer, cheating scandal · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«scandal» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [scandal in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scandal.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scandal is something wrong or shameful that people find out about and are shocked by, such as a famous person lying or cheating.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:m1:1
# text = A scandal is something wrong or shameful that people find out about and are shocked by, such as a famous person lying or cheating.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	shameful	shameful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	about	about	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	shocked	shock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
18	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	22	case	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
23	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	acl	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	cheating	cheat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a scandal | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find out** | present | people |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **shock** | present · passive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 4 | **lie** | gerund | a famous person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **cheat** | gerund | a famous person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: 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 -->
Scandal is talk and gossip about such things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:m2:1
# text = Scandal is talk and gossip about such things.
1	Scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Scandal talk and gossip about such things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It's a scandal" means something is very unfair or wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:m3:1
# text = "It's a scandal" means something is very unfair or wrong.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	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	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | It | a scandal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | a scandal |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scandal was on the front page of every newspaper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x1:1
# text = The scandal was on the front page of every newspaper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the scandal |  |  | the front page |  | of every newspaper | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footballer was caught up in a cheating scandal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x2:1
# text = The footballer was caught up in a cheating scandal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch up** | past · passive |  | the footballer |  | a cheating scandal |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a scandal that the park has no toilets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x3:1
# text = It's a scandal that the park has no toilets.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	toilets	toilet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a scandal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | the park | no toilets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toilet=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister lost her job after the scandal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x4:1
# text = The minister lost her job after the scandal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | past | the minister | minister's job |  |  | after the scandal |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 2 | **job** |  | minister |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tabloids love scandal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x5:1
# text = Tabloids love scandal.
1	Tabloids	tabloid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Tabloids | scandal |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer scandal=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The village was buzzing with scandal about the missing cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x6:1
# text = The village was buzzing with scandal about the missing cake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	buzzing	buzz	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buzz** | past · progressive | the village |  |  |  |  | with scandal about the missing cake | vn bulge-47.5.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location with scandal=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the scandal broke, the singer said sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x7:1
# text = When the scandal broke, the singer said sorry.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | the scandal |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | the singer |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For fear of scandal he kept the matter quiet and searched everywhere he could think of, but all to no purpose.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scandal:x8:1
# text = For fear of scandal he kept the matter quiet and searched everywhere he could think of, but all to no purpose.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	kept	keep	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	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	searched	search	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
12	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	11	advmod	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obl	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	22	det	_	_
22	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | he | the matter |  |  |  | for fear of scandal; all *obl*; quiet *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent matter=Theme |
| 2 | **search** | participle | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | everywhere *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | could | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **fear** |  |  | scandal |  |  |  |  | nom fear «feeling transitive»: of=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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