---
title: unflattering — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unflattering» in the school dictionary: Unflattering means making someone or something look or seem worse than they really are, like an unflattering photo. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unflattering

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unflattering, they, Unflattering words, photo, newspaper, Bright yellow light · **What happens:** mean, make, seem, be, unflatter, not be · **To what, where:** someone, eyes, unflattering picture, unflattering review, play, everyone

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unflattering means making someone or something look or seem worse than they really are, like an unflattering photo.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:m1:1
# text = Unflattering means making someone or something look or seem worse than they really are, like an unflattering photo.
1	Unflattering	unflattering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	compound	_	_
7	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
13	really	really	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unflattering |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | gerund | Unflattering *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |
| 3 | **seem** | present | Unflattering *not said here* |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | than a unflattering photo | 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 -->
Unflattering words are honest but not kind or praising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:m2:1
# text = Unflattering words are honest but not kind or praising.
1	Unflattering	unflatter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	praising	praise	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unflatter** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Unflattering words |  |  |  |  | honest *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** |  | Unflattering words *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **praise** | gerund | Unflattering words *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That photo of me with my eyes shut is so unflattering!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x1:1
# text = That photo of me with my eyes shut is so unflattering!
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
8	shut	shut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shut** | participle |  | my eyes *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | that photo of me with my eyes |  |  |  |  | unflattering *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper used an unflattering picture of the mayor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x2:1
# text = The newspaper used an unflattering picture of the mayor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	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	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the newspaper | a unflattering picture of the mayor |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bright yellow light can be unflattering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x3:1
# text = Bright yellow light can be unflattering.
1	Bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Bright yellow light |  |  |  |  | unflattering *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The critic wrote an unflattering review of the play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x4:1
# text = The critic wrote an unflattering review of the play.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critic	critic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	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	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	review	review	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the critic | a unflattering review of the play |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent review=Theme |
| 2 | **review** |  |  | the play |  |  |  |  | nom review «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baggy uniform was unflattering on everyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x5:1
# text = The baggy uniform was unflattering on everyone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baggy	baggy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	unflattering	unflatter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unflatter** | past · progressive | the baggy uniform |  |  | everyone |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The diary gives an unflattering picture of the queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unflattering:x6:1
# text = The diary gives an unflattering picture of the queen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	diary	diary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	unflattering	unflattering	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | the diary | a unflattering picture of the queen |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Theme |

<!-- 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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