---
title: slippery — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slippery» in the school dictionary: Slippery means smooth, wet or icy so that it is hard to hold or to stand on without sliding. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slippery

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Slippery, floor, you, path, pool, fish · **What happens:** mean, be, hold, stand on, slide, not trust · **To what, where:** slippery person, hands, road

<!-- .vabout -->
«slippery» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [slippery in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slippery.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slippery means smooth, wet or icy so that it is hard to hold or to stand on without sliding.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:m1:1
# text = Slippery means smooth, wet or icy so that it is hard to hold or to stand on without sliding.
1	Slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	12	mark	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	expl	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	_
19	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
20	sliding	slide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Slippery |  |  |  |  | smooth *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | Slippery *not said here* |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hold** | to-infinitive | Slippery *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **stand on** | to-infinitive | Slippery *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **slide** | gerund | Slippery *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «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 -->
A slippery person cannot be trusted and is hard to catch or pin down.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:m2:1
# text = A slippery person cannot be trusted and is hard to catch or pin down.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	pin	pin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
15	down	down	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **trust** | can · passive |  | a slippery person |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **pin down** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The floor is slippery after mopping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x1:1
# text = The floor is slippery after mopping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	mopping	mop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the floor |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mop** | gerund | the floor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walk carefully — the path is slippery with ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x2:1
# text = Walk carefully — the path is slippery with ice.
1	Walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the path |  |  |  |  | with ice; slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't run by the pool; it's slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x3:1
# text = Don't run by the pool; it's slippery.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	run	run	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **run** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by the pool | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by pool=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | pool |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish was too slippery to hold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x4:1
# text = The fish was too slippery to hold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fish |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive | the fish *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soap makes your hands slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x5:1
# text = Soap makes your hands slippery.
1	Soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Soap | your hands |  |  |  | slippery *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hand=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wet leaves make the road slippery for bikes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x6:1
# text = Wet leaves make the road slippery for bikes.
1	Wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bikes	bike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Wet leaves | the road |  |  |  | slippery *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset road=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rocks by the river are slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x7:1
# text = The rocks by the river are slippery.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	slippery	slippery	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 | the rocks by the river |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slippery thief escaped again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x8:1
# text = The slippery thief escaped again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | past | the slippery thief |  |  |  | again |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rock was slippery as a ball, and they had to crawl rather than climb.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slippery:x9:1
# text = The rock was slippery as a ball, and they had to crawl rather than climb.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	crawl	crawl	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	16	cc	_	_
15	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the rock |  |  |  |  | as a ball; slippery *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **crawl** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **climb** | infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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