---
title: sternly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sternly» in the school dictionary: In a strict, serious and unsmiling way, often when someone has done wrong. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sternly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, teacher, Badger, Dad, judge, She · **What happens:** do, sit down, say, look, remind, speak · **To what, where:** strict way, us, ways, muddy boots, Swimming, it · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a strict, serious and unsmiling way, often when someone has done wrong.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:m1:1
# text = In a strict, serious and unsmiling way, often when someone has done wrong.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
3	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	unsmiling	unsmiling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nsubj	_	_
13	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
15	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present · perfect | someone |  |  | a strict way |  | often, wrong *property* | vn act-114-1 «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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Sit down,» said the teacher sternly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x1:1
# text = «Sit down,» said the teacher sternly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	said	say	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	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
9	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  | sternly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Badger looked sternly at Toad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x2:1
# text = Badger looked sternly at Toad.
1	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | Badger |  |  |  |  | at Toad; sternly *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at toad=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad sternly reminded us to look both ways.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x3:1
# text = Dad sternly reminded us to look both ways.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	reminded	remind	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	ways	way	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 | **remind** *speech: other* | past | Dad |  | us |  |  | sternly *property* | vn tell-37.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | both ways |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge spoke sternly to the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x4:1
# text = The judge spoke sternly to the thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thief	thief	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 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  | to the thief; sternly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to thief=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She frowned sternly at the muddy boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x5:1
# text = She frowned sternly at the muddy boots.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	frowned	frown	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **frown** | past | She |  |  | the muddy boots |  | sternly *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sign sternly warned: No Swimming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x6:1
# text = The sign sternly warned: No Swimming.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	warned	warn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	Swimming	swimming	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 | **warn** *speech: warn* | past | the sign | no Swimming |  |  |  | sternly *property* | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent swimming=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“You know it now,” the king replied sternly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sternly:x7:1
# text = “You know it now,” the king replied sternly.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
10	replied	reply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	sternly	sternly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** *in a quote* | present | You | it |  |  | now |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **reply** *speech: assert* | participle |  | the king *not said here* |  |  |  | sternly *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=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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