---
title: shaky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shaky» in the school dictionary: Shaking or trembling, often because of fear, cold, illness or weakness (shaky hands, a shaky voice). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shaky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** verb, hands, I, you, old bridge, we · **What happens:** shake, tremble, fall, break, use, mean · **To what, where:** shaky ladder, shaky, dialects, poem, shaky chair, bridge

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shaking or trembling, often because of fear, cold, illness or weakness (shaky hands, a shaky voice).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:m1:1
# text = Shaking or trembling, often because of fear, cold, illness or weakness (shaky hands, a shaky voice).
1	Shaking	shake	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	trembling	tremble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **tremble** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Not firm or steady; likely to fall or break (a shaky ladder).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:m2:1
# text = Not firm or steady; likely to fall or break (a shaky ladder).
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | infinitive |  | a shaky ladder |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ladder=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not certain, strong or good (shaky spelling, a shaky start).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:m3:1
# text = Not certain, strong or good (shaky spelling, a shaky start).
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some dialects, shaky is used as a verb meaning to shake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:m4:1
# text = In some dialects, shaky is used as a verb meaning to shake.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	dialects	dialect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	shake	shake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | shaky |  | some dialects |  | as a verb | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Duration as verb=Attribute |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund | a verb *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **shake** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a verb *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My hands were shaky before I read my poem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x1:1
# text = My hands were shaky before I read my poem.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | My hands |  |  |  |  | shaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **read** | past | I | my poem |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't stand on that shaky chair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x2:1
# text = Don't stand on that shaky chair.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
6	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stand** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | that shaky chair |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on chair=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old bridge looked shaky, so we didn't cross it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x3:1
# text = The old bridge looked shaky, so we didn't cross it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	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 old bridge |  |  |  |  | shaky *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **cross** | past · do-support | we | bridge |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her voice was shaky because she was nervous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x4:1
# text = Her voice was shaky because she was nervous.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her voice |  |  |  |  | shaky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My division is still a bit shaky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x5:1
# text = My division is still a bit shaky.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	division	division	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My division |  |  |  | still | a bit *obl:unmarked*; shaky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After being ill, Grandpa's legs felt shaky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x6:1
# text = After being ill, Grandpa's legs felt shaky.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	shaky	shaky	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 | **is** | gerund | Grandpa's legs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | past | Grandpa's legs |  |  |  |  | shaky *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team had a shaky start but won the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shaky:x7:1
# text = The team had a shaky start but won the game.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	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	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the team | a shaky start |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent start=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | past | the team *not said here* | the game |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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