---
title: unclear — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unclear» in the school dictionary: Not easy to understand, see or hear; confusing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unclear

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** It, I, instructions, we, handwriting, His · **What happens:** understand, see, hear, not know, be, win · **To what, where:** teacher, 1, fire · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«unclear» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [unclear in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unclear.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not easy to understand, see or hear; confusing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:m1:1
# text = Not easy to understand, see or hear; confusing.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	confusing	confusing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **see** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **hear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=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 -->
Not known for sure: «It is unclear who won.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:m2:1
# text = Not known for sure: «It is unclear who won.».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **know** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for sure | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **win** *in a quote* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a person — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not sure about something: «I'm unclear about the homework.».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:m3:1
# text = Not sure about something: «I'm unclear about the homework.».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | about the homework; unclear *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The instructions were unclear, so we asked the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x1:1
# text = The instructions were unclear, so we asked the teacher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the instructions |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | we |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His handwriting is unclear; is that a 1 or a 7?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x2:1
# text = His handwriting is unclear; is that a 1 or a 7?
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His handwriting |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a 1 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **handwrite** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom handwriting «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is unclear whether the match will go ahead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x3:1
# text = It is unclear whether the match will go ahead.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	ahead	ahead	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | future | the match |  |  |  |  | ahead *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm unclear about what we have to do for homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x4:1
# text = I'm unclear about what we have to do for homework.
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	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	obl	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for homework | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The photo was unclear because the camera moved.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x5:1
# text = The photo was unclear because the camera moved.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the photo |  |  |  |  | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | past | the camera |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cause of the fire is still unclear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unclear:x6:1
# text = The cause of the fire is still unclear.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	still	still	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	unclear	unclear	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 cause of the fire |  |  |  | still | unclear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** |  |  | the fire |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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