---
title: unpredictable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unpredictable» in the school dictionary: Unpredictable means impossible to know or say beforehand what will happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unpredictable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unpredictable, unpredictable person, you, British weather, dice roll, Wild animals · **What happens:** mean, know, say, happen, behave, not guess · **To what, where:** ways, coat, animals, book · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unpredictable means impossible to know or say beforehand what will happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:m1:1
# text = Unpredictable means impossible to know or say beforehand what will happen.
1	Unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	beforehand	beforehand	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	nsubj	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unpredictable |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **know** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **happen** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
An unpredictable person or animal behaves in ways you cannot guess, sometimes calm and sometimes not.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:m2:1
# text = An unpredictable person or animal behaves in ways you cannot guess, sometimes calm and sometimes not.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	15	advmod	_	_
15	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	18	advmod	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | present | a unpredictable person or animal |  |  | ways |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **guess** | can | you | ways *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
British weather is unpredictable, so take a coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x1:1
# text = British weather is unpredictable, so take a coat.
1	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | British weather |  |  |  |  | unpredictable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive |  | a coat |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dice roll is unpredictable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x2:1
# text = A dice roll is unpredictable.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dice	dice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	roll	roll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wild animals can be unpredictable – don't feed them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x3:1
# text = Wild animals can be unpredictable – don't feed them.
1	Wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Wild animals |  |  |  |  | unpredictable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **feed** | infinitive · do-support | Wild animals *not said here* |  | animals *= animal* |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ending of the book was unpredictable.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the ending of the book |  |  |  |  | unpredictable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** |  |  | the book |  |  |  |  | nom ending «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Earthquakes are hard to predict, so they seem unpredictable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x5:1
# text = Earthquakes are hard to predict, so they seem unpredictable.
1	Earthquakes	earthquake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	predict	predict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Earthquakes |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **predict** | to-infinitive | Earthquakes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V how S»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **seem** | present | Earthquakes *= earthquake* |  |  |  |  | unpredictable *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister's moods are unpredictable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x6:1
# text = My little sister's moods are unpredictable.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	moods	mood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My little sister's moods |  |  |  |  | unpredictable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was unpredictable until the last minute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unpredictable:x7:1
# text = The match was unpredictable until the last minute.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unpredictable	unpredictable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	until	until	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the match |  |  |  | minute | unpredictable *property* | 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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