---
title: underdog — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «underdog» in the school dictionary: The underdog is the person or team that is expected to lose a contest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# underdog

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** underdog, person, small school, Everyone, I, David · **What happens:** be, expect, lose, cheer, win, support · **To what, where:** person, contest, underdog, final, race, classic underdog story

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The underdog is the person or team that is expected to lose a contest.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:m1:1
# text = The underdog is the person or team that is expected to lose a contest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the underdog | the person or team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **expect** | present · passive |  | the person or team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **lose** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the person or team *not said here* | a contest |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent contest=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
An underdog is also a person with less power or money than others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:m2:1
# text = An underdog is also a person with less power or money than others.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a underdog | a person |  |  |  | with less power or money; than others | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our small school was the underdog in the final.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x1:1
# text = Our small school was the underdog in the final.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	final	final	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Our small school | the underdog |  | the final |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone cheered when the underdog won the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x2:1
# text = Everyone cheered when the underdog won the race.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cheered	cheer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheer** | past | Everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **win** | past | the underdog | the race |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I always support the underdog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x3:1
# text = I always support the underdog.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	support	support	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	underdog	underdog	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 | **support** | present | I | the underdog |  |  |  | always *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer underdog=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
David was the underdog against the giant Goliath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x4:1
# text = David was the underdog against the giant Goliath.
1	David	David	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	Goliath	Goliath	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | David | the underdog |  |  |  | against the giant Goliath | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film is a classic underdog story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x5:1
# text = The film is a classic underdog story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	classic	classic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the film | a classic underdog story |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The underdogs played their best game ever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underdog:x6:1
# text = The underdogs played their best game ever.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	underdogs	underdog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the underdogs | underdogs's best game |  |  | ever |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=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.

<!-- /div -->

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