---
title: uncertainty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «uncertainty» in the school dictionary: The feeling or state of not being sure about something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# uncertainty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, much measurement, lot, tomorrow, Moving, measurement · **What happens:** not be, not know, be, weather, move, bring · **To what, where:** new school, uncertainty, us

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feeling or state of not being sure about something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:m1:1
# text = The feeling or state of not being sure about something.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about something; sure *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that you do not know or cannot be sure about.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:m2:1
# text = Something that you do not know or cannot be sure about.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	obj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **know** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer that=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **is** | can | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How much a measurement might be wrong; the range of possible values.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:m3:1
# text = How much a measurement might be wrong; the range of possible values.
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	measurement	measurement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	range	range	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	values	value	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | might | a much measurement |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a lot of uncertainty about tomorrow's weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x1:1
# text = There is a lot of uncertainty about tomorrow's weather.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a lot of uncertainty about tomorrow's weather |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **weather** |  | tomorrow |  |  |  |  |  | nom weather «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving to a new school brought months of uncertainty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x2:1
# text = Moving to a new school brought months of uncertainty.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  | a new school |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to school=Trajectory |
| 2 | **bring** | past | Moving |  |  |  | month |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every measurement has some uncertainty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x3:1
# text = Every measurement has some uncertainty.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	measurement	measurement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | every measurement | some uncertainty |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent uncertainty=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Probability helps us talk about uncertainty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x4:1
# text = Probability helps us talk about uncertainty.
1	Probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Probability | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **talk** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about uncertainty | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about uncertainty=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She felt uncertainty about which club to join.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x5:1
# text = She felt uncertainty about which club to join.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	6	det	_	_
6	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | She | uncertainty |  |  |  | about which club | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent uncertainty=Theme about club=Location |
| 2 | **join** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Life is full of uncertainties.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x6:1
# text = Life is full of uncertainties.
1	Life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	uncertainties	uncertainty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Life |  |  |  |  | of uncertainties; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:uncertainty:x7:1
# text = Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
1	Poverty	poverty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	security	security	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	plenty	plenty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	midst	midst	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	uncertainty	uncertainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Poverty with security |  |  |  |  | than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty; good *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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