---
title: unstable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unstable» in the school dictionary: Likely to fall over, move or break; not steady. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unstable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Likely, tower, you, ice, chemicals, Food prices · **What happens:** fall over, move, break, change, break down, predict · **To what, where:** unstable weather, something, unstable cliff edge, ice

<!-- .vabout -->
«unstable» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [unstable in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unstable.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Likely to fall over, move or break; not steady.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:m1:1
# text = Likely to fall over, move or break; not steady.
1	Likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	over	over	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall over** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **move** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **break** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Likely to change suddenly: unstable weather or prices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:m2:1
# text = Likely to change suddenly: unstable weather or prices.
1	Likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | to-infinitive | Likely | unstable weather or prices |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Likely to change or break down into something else: an unstable chemical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:m3:1
# text = Likely to change or break down into something else: an unstable chemical.
1	Likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	chemical	chemical	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **break down** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | into something *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into something=Result |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a person's mood — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Changing quickly and hard to predict.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:m4:1
# text = Changing quickly and hard to predict.
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	predict	predict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **predict** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V how S»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tower of blocks was unstable and fell over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x1:1
# text = The tower of blocks was unstable and fell over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the tower of blocks |  |  |  |  | unstable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall over** | past | the tower of blocks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep away from the unstable cliff edge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x2:1
# text = Keep away from the unstable cliff edge.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the unstable cliff edge |  | away *property* | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer from edge=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ice on the pond is unstable, so don't walk on it.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x3:1
# text = The ice on the pond is unstable, so don't walk on it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the ice on the pond |  |  |  |  | unstable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **walk** | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  | ice |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on it=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some chemicals are unstable and can explode.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x4:1
# text = Some chemicals are unstable and can explode.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	explode	explode	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some chemicals |  |  |  |  | unstable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **explode** | can | some chemicals *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Food prices have been unstable this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x5:1
# text = Food prices have been unstable this year.
1	Food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	unstable	unstable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present · perfect | Food prices |  |  |  | year | unstable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A three-legged stool with one short leg is unstable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unstable:x6:1
# text = A three-legged stool with one short leg is unstable.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	legged	legged	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	stool	stool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	unstable	unstable	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 | **is** | present | a legged stool with one short leg |  |  |  |  | unstable *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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