---
title: teasing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «teasing» in the school dictionary: Teasing is making fun of someone or annoying them with words or tricks, sometimes in a friendly way and sometimes in a hurtful way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# teasing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Teasing, animal, teacher, her, His, It · **What happens:** make, annoy, tease, mean, try, want · **To what, where:** fun, friendly way, them, animal, something, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«teasing» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [teasing in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/teasing.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teasing is making fun of someone or annoying them with words or tricks, sometimes in a friendly way and sometimes in a hurtful way.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:m1:1
# text = Teasing is making fun of someone or annoying them with words or tricks, sometimes in a friendly way and sometimes in a hurtful way.
1	Teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	annoying	annoy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	19	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
21	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	25	advmod	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	hurtful	hurtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · progressive | Teasing | fun of someone |  | a friendly way and a hurtful way |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fun=Product |
| 2 | **annoy** | gerund | Teasing *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  | with words or tricks | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Teasing can also mean playfully trying to make an animal or person want something.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:m2:1
# text = Teasing can also mean playfully trying to make an animal or person want something.
1	Teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	playfully	playfully	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | can | Teasing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | gerund | Teasing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | playfully *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Teasing *not said here* | a animal or person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **want** *not said to happen* | infinitive | a animal or person *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teasing stopped when the teacher came in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x1:1
# text = The teasing stopped when the teacher came in.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the teasing |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **come in** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His teasing made her cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x2:1
# text = His teasing made her cry.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His teasing | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tease** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom teasing «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was just friendly teasing; we were both laughing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x3:1
# text = It was just friendly teasing; we were both laughing.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	both	both	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | friendly teasing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past · progressive | we |  |  |  |  | both *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop teasing the dog; it might bite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x4:1
# text = Stop teasing the dog; it might bite.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	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* | the dog |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Patient |
| 3 | **bite** | might | dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teasing about someone's clothes is unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x5:1
# text = Teasing about someone's clothes is unkind.
1	Teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	1	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unkind	unkind	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 | **tease** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about someone's clothes | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | Teasing |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave her a teasing smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x6:1
# text = He gave her a teasing smile.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	smile	smile	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 | **give** | past | He | a teasing smile | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent she=Recipient smile=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If the teasing doesn't stop, tell an adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x7:1
# text = If the teasing doesn't stop, tell an adult.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stop** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · do-support | the teasing |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But she was not teasing him; those times were past.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teasing:x8:1
# text = But she was not teasing him; those times were past.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tease** | past · progressive | she | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | that times |  |  |  |  | past *property* | 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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