---
title: uncertain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «uncertain» in the school dictionary: Uncertain means not sure about something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# uncertain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Uncertain, Uncertain weather, weather, I, answer, future · **What happens:** mean, not know, not decide, be, change, bring · **To what, where:** weather, coat, uncertain smile, us, uncertain terms · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncertain means not sure about something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:m1:1
# text = Uncertain means not sure about something.
1	Uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Uncertain |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncertain means not known or not decided yet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:m2:1
# text = Uncertain means not known or not decided yet.
1	Uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	decided	decide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
8	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Uncertain |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **know** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **not** **decide** | participle |  |  |  |  | yet |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncertain weather is weather that may change suddenly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:m3:1
# text = Uncertain weather is weather that may change suddenly.
1	Uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Uncertain weather | weather |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | may | weather |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm uncertain about which answer is right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x1:1
# text = I'm uncertain about which answer is right.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	6	det	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | uncertain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | which answer |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weather is uncertain, so bring a coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x2:1
# text = The weather is uncertain, so bring a coat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the weather |  |  |  |  | uncertain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | infinitive | the weather *not said here* | a coat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The future of the old cinema is uncertain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x3:1
# text = The future of the old cinema is uncertain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cinema	cinema	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the future of the old cinema |  |  |  |  | uncertain *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave an uncertain smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x4:1
# text = She gave an uncertain smile.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a uncertain smile |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smile=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whether it will rain tomorrow is uncertain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x5:1
# text = Whether it will rain tomorrow is uncertain.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	uncertain	uncertain	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** | future | it |  |  |  |  | uncertain *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher told us in no uncertain terms to stop talking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x6:1
# text = The teacher told us in no uncertain terms to stop talking.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	told	tell	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	iobj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
7	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	terms	term	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  | us | no uncertain terms |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **talk** | gerund | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The number of guests is still uncertain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x7:1
# text = The number of guests is still uncertain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	uncertain	uncertain	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 number of guests |  |  |  | still | uncertain *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Where the name came from, and what it means is very uncertain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertain:x8:1
# text = Where the name came from, and what it means is very uncertain.
1	Where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the name |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | name |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | uncertain *property* | tree rules |

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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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