---
title: unlikely — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unlikely» in the school dictionary: Unlikely means probably not going to happen or probably not true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unlikely

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unlikely, you, rain, Rolling, They, he · **What happens:** mean, not go, happen, not expect, be, roll · **To what, where:** row, unlikely friends, stairs, unlikely event, unlikely, probability line · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unlikely means probably not going to happen or probably not true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:m1:1
# text = Unlikely means probably not going to happen or probably not true.
1	Unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unlikely |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **go** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | probably *property* | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unlikely means surprising or not what you would expect: «an unlikely friendship», «an unlikely hero».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:m2:1
# text = Unlikely means surprising or not what you would expect: «an unlikely friendship», «an unlikely hero».
1	Unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	expect	expect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unlikely |  |  |  |  | surprising *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **expect** | would | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's unlikely to rain today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x1:1
# text = It's unlikely to rain today.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
6	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | rain  today |  |  |  |  | unlikely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rolling a six three times in a row is unlikely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x2:1
# text = Rolling a six three times in a row is unlikely.
1	Rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | gerund |  |  |  | a row | time |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in row=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | Rolling |  |  |  |  | unlikely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They became unlikely friends — a dog and a duck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x3:1
# text = They became unlikely friends — a dog and a duck.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	xcomp	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | They | unlikely friends |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is unlikely that he forgot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x4:1
# text = It is unlikely that he forgot.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unlikely	unlikely	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	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | unlikely *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the unlikely event of a fire, use the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x5:1
# text = In the unlikely event of a fire, use the stairs.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the stairs |  | the unlikely event of a fire |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stair=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put «unlikely» on the probability line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x6:1
# text = Put «unlikely» on the probability line.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | unlikely |  | the probability line |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent unlikely=Theme on line=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mouse was an unlikely hero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlikely:x7:1
# text = The mouse was an unlikely hero.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the mouse | a unlikely hero |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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