---
title: unbecoming — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unbecoming» in the school dictionary: Unbecoming behaviour is not suitable or proper for a person in a certain role, such as a teacher, officer or guest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unbecoming

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unbecoming, Unbecoming clothes, person, Shouting, Grandma, green hat · **What happens:** unbecom, not be, be, not look, wear, shout · **To what, where:** behaviour, clothes, referee, officer, library, dress · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«unbecoming» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [unbecoming in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unbecoming.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unbecoming behaviour is not suitable or proper for a person in a certain role, such as a teacher, officer or guest.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:m1:1
# text = Unbecoming behaviour is not suitable or proper for a person in a certain role, such as a teacher, officer or guest.
1	Unbecoming	unbecom	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	suitable	suitable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	role	role	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	guest	guest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unbecom** | gerund |  | behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | Unbecoming |  |  |  |  | for a person in a certain role; suitable *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | Unbecoming *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unbecoming clothes or colours do not look nice on the person wearing them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:m2:1
# text = Unbecoming clothes or colours do not look nice on the person wearing them.
1	Unbecoming	Unbecoming	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **look** | present · do-support | Unbecoming clothes or colours |  |  |  |  | on the person; nice *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on person=Theme |
| 2 | **wear** | gerund | the person *not said here* | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent they=Source |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shouting at the referee was unbecoming of a team captain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x1:1
# text = Shouting at the referee was unbecoming of a team captain.
1	Shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	unbecoming	unbecom	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  | the referee |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **unbecom** | past · progressive | Shouting |  |  |  |  | of a team captain | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The officer was punished for conduct unbecoming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x2:1
# text = The officer was punished for conduct unbecoming.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	punished	punish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	conduct	conduct	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **punish** | past · passive |  | the officer |  |  |  | for conduct | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Patient for conduct=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma said the green hat was rather unbecoming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x3:1
# text = Grandma said the green hat was rather unbecoming.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the green hat |  |  |  |  | unbecoming *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sulking after losing is unbecoming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x4:1
# text = Sulking after losing is unbecoming.
1	Sulking	sulk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sulk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **lose** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | Sulking |  |  |  |  | unbecoming *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Such rude words are unbecoming in a library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x5:1
# text = Such rude words are unbecoming in a library.
1	Such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Such rude words |  |  | a library |  | unbecoming *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old novel described a dress «most unbecoming».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x6:1
# text = The old novel described a dress «most unbecoming».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	described	describe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	9	advmod	_	_
9	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | past | the old novel | a dress |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent dress=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is almost unbecoming to tell the story, but there is no doubt about it."

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unbecoming:x7:1
# text = It is almost unbecoming to tell the story, but there is no doubt about it."
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	unbecoming	unbecoming	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	12	expl	_	_
12	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
13	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	14	det	_	_
14	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | almost, unbecoming *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | the story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |
| 3 | **be** | present | no doubt about story |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

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