---
title: shabby — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shabby» in the school dictionary: Shabby means old, worn and untidy from a lot of use. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shabby

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Shabby, He, hotel, That, sofa, Dad · **What happens:** mean, dress, wear, be, need, play · **To what, where:** old worn clothes, shabby old coat, painting, shabby trick, him, spite · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«shabby» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [shabby in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shabby.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shabby means old, worn and untidy from a lot of use.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:m1:1
# text = Shabby means old, worn and untidy from a lot of use.
1	Shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	worn	worn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Shabby |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: 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 -->
Shabby means dressed in old, worn clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:m2:1
# text = Shabby means dressed in old, worn clothes.
1	Shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dressed	dress	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	worn	worn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Shabby |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **dress** *not said to happen* | participle | Shabby *not said here* |  |  | old worn clothes |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shabby means unfair or mean, as in «a shabby trick».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:m3:1
# text = Shabby means unfair or mean, as in «a shabby trick».
1	Shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Not shabby» means quite good.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:m4:1
# text = «Not shabby» means quite good.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wore a shabby old coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x1:1
# text = He wore a shabby old coat.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | He | a shabby old coat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hotel was shabby and needed painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x2:1
# text = The hotel was shabby and needed painting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hotel	hotel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the hotel |  |  |  |  | shabby *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | past | the hotel *not said here* | painting |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot painting=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That was a shabby trick to play on your friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x3:1
# text = That was a shabby trick to play on your friend.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | That | a shabby trick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | on your friend | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sofa looked shabby but was very comfy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x4:1
# text = The sofa looked shabby but was very comfy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	comfy	comfy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the sofa |  |  |  |  | shabby *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | the sofa *not said here* |  |  |  |  | comfy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Second place? Not too shabby!» said Dad.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Second place?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x5:1
# text = «Second place?
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Not too shabby!» said Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x5:2
# text = Not too shabby!» said Dad.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shabby teddy was her favourite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x6:1
# text = The shabby teddy was her favourite.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	teddy	teddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the shabby teddy |  |  |  |  | favourite *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in spite of his shabby clothes.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shabby:x7:1
# text = Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in spite of his shabby clothes.
1	Directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Badoura	Badoura	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	recognised	recognise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | the Princess Badoura |  |  |  |  | directly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **recognise** | past | the prince | him *= he* |  | spite of prince's shabby clothes |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 3 | **spite** |  |  | prince's shabby clothes |  |  |  |  | nom spite «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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