---
title: tease — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tease» in the school dictionary: To tease someone means to laugh at them or make jokes about them, in a friendly way or an unkind way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tease

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tease, person, big brother, you, dog, They · **What happens:** tease, mean, laugh, make, annoy, be · **To what, where:** someone, jokes, friendly way, animal, purpose, person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tease» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [tease in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tease.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tease someone means to laugh at them or make jokes about them, in a friendly way or an unkind way.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:m1:1
# text = To tease someone means to laugh at them or make jokes about them, in a friendly way or an unkind way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **laugh** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | at them *= they* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  | jokes |  | a friendly way or a unkind way |  | about jokes *= joke* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset joke=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
To tease an animal means to annoy it on purpose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:m2:1
# text = To tease an animal means to annoy it on purpose.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	annoy	annoy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	purpose	purpose	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 | **tease** | to-infinitive |  | a animal |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **annoy** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | animal |  | purpose |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus it=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tease is a person who likes to tease others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:m3:1
# text = A tease is a person who likes to tease others.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tease	tease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	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	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tease | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **tease** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big brother likes to tease me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x1:1
# text = My big brother likes to tease me.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | My big brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **tease** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | My big brother *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't tease the dog; it might bite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x2:1
# text = Don't tease the dog; it might bite.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	tease	tease	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tease** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the dog |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Patient |
| 2 | **bite** | might | dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They teased him about his new haircut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x3:1
# text = They teased him about his new haircut.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	teased	tease	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	haircut	haircut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | past | They | him *= he* |  |  |  | about his new haircut | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was only teasing; I'm sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x4:1
# text = I was only teasing; I'm sorry.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | past · progressive | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop teasing your sister!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x5:1
# text = Stop teasing your sister!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tease** | gerund | you *not said here* | your sister |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sister=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's unkind to tease someone about their name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x6:1
# text = It's unkind to tease someone about their name.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tease** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | about their name | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 3 | **name** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's such a tease!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tease:x7:1
# text = She's such a tease!
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	5	det:predet	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tease	tease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | such tease |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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