---
title: unfair — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unfair» in the school dictionary: Unfair means not fair: not treating people equally or in a right and honest way, or not following the rules. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unfair

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unfair, It, he, Cheating, rule, she · **What happens:** mean, not treat, not follow, be, get, seem · **To what, where:** people, rules, more cake, her, unfair decision, him · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unfair means not fair: not treating people equally or in a right and honest way, or not following the rules.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:m1:1
# text = Unfair means not fair: not treating people equally or in a right and honest way, or not following the rules.
1	Unfair	unfair	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	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	treating	treat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	equally	equally	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unfair |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **treat** | gerund | Unfair *not said here* |  | people |  |  | equally *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 3 | **not** **follow** | gerund | Unfair *not said here* | the rules |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's unfair that he got more cake than me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x1:1
# text = It's unfair that he got more cake than me.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | past | he | more cake |  |  |  | than me | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cake=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cheating is unfair to the other players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x2:1
# text = Cheating is unfair to the other players.
1	Cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Cheating |  |  |  |  | to the other players; unfair *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rule seemed unfair to the younger children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x3:1
# text = The rule seemed unfair to the younger children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the rule |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's unfair to blame her for something she didn't do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x4:1
# text = It's unfair to blame her for something she didn't do.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	blame	blame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **blame** | to-infinitive |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | for something | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent she=Theme for something=Attribute |
| 3 | **not** **do** | past · do-support | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A loaded die is unfair because some numbers come up more.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x5:1
# text = A loaded die is unfair because some numbers come up more.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loaded	load	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	die	die	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **load** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | a loaded die |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **come up** | present | some numbers |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee made an unfair decision.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x6:1
# text = The referee made an unfair decision.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the referee | a unfair decision |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset decision=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving him out of the game was unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x7:1
# text = Leaving him out of the game was unfair.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	unfair	unfair	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 | **leave** | gerund |  | him *= he* |  | the game |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Theme out game=Location |
| 2 | **is** | past | Leaving |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Your conduct," said they, "is very strange and, we think, very unfair.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfair:x8:1
# text = "Your conduct," said they, "is very strange and, we think, very unfair.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	conduct	conduct	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
15	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Your conduct |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | they |  |  |  |  | strange *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **be** *in a quote* |  | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **conduct** *in a quote* |  | Your |  |  |  |  |  | nom conduct «act transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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