---
title: unprovoked — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unprovoked» in the school dictionary: An unprovoked attack or action happens without any reason, when the other person did nothing to cause it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unprovoked

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** unprovoked attack, other person, bite, dog, Russia, teacher · **What happens:** happen, do, cause, be, not touch, bite · **To what, where:** nothing, person, boy, scale invasion, Ukraine, unprovoked insult · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An unprovoked attack or action happens without any reason, when the other person did nothing to cause it.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:m1:1
# text = An unprovoked attack or action happens without any reason, when the other person did nothing to cause it.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
16	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	15	obj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	acl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | a unprovoked attack or action |  |  |  |  | without any reason | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | past | the other person | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **cause** | to-infinitive | the other person *not said here* | person |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition it=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
The dog's bite was unprovoked; the boy had not touched it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x1:1
# text = The dog's bite was unprovoked; the boy had not touched it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	touched	touch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the dog's bite |  |  |  |  | unprovoked *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **touch** | past · perfect · passive |  | the boy |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Experiencer it=Result |
| 3 | **bite** |  | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | nom bite «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was widely described as unprovoked.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x2:1
# text = Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was widely described as unprovoked.
1	Russia	Russia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	invasion	invasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Ukraine	Ukraine	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	2022	2022	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
12	widely	widely	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	described	describe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | past · passive |  | Russia's scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 |  |  |  | as unprovoked; widely *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as unprovoked=Attribute |
| 2 | **invade** |  | Russia | Ukraine |  |  |  |  | nom invasion «act transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said the push was unprovoked and unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x3:1
# text = The teacher said the push was unprovoked and unfair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	push	push	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the push |  |  |  |  | unprovoked *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | the push *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shark attacks on people are rare, and unprovoked ones are rarer still.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x4:1
# text = Shark attacks on people are rare, and unprovoked ones are rarer still.
1	Shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	attacks	attack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	rarer	rare	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	_
13	still	still	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Shark attacks on people |  |  |  |  | rare *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | unprovoked ones |  |  |  | still | rare *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was an unprovoked insult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x5:1
# text = It was an unprovoked insult.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The court heard it was an unprovoked assault.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unprovoked:x6:1
# text = The court heard it was an unprovoked assault.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	unprovoked	unprovoked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	assault	assault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | the court |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | court | a unprovoked assault |  |  |  |  | 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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