---
title: unsteadily — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unsteadily» in the school dictionary: Unsteadily means in a wobbly, shaky way, not firm or balanced. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteadily/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [U](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/) / unsteadily

# unsteadily

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** baby, I, foal, ladder, Dad, He · **What happens:** mean, walk, spin, stand up, rise, rock · **To what, where:** room, long legs, ladder, rock, light · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unsteadily means in a wobbly, shaky way, not firm or balanced.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:m1:1
# text = Unsteadily means in a wobbly, shaky way, not firm or balanced.
1	Unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	balanced	balanced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a wobbly shaky way; unsteadily *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |

<!-- .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 baby walked unsteadily across the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x1:1
# text = The baby walked unsteadily across the room.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | the baby |  |  | the room |  | unsteadily *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across room=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the spinning ride, I stood up unsteadily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x2:1
# text = After the spinning ride, I stood up unsteadily.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stand up** | past | I |  |  |  | after the spinning ride | unsteadily *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The foal rose unsteadily on its long legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x3:1
# text = The foal rose unsteadily on its long legs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	foal	foal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | the foal |  |  | foal's long legs |  | unsteadily *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on leg=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ladder rocked unsteadily, so Dad held it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x4:1
# text = The ladder rocked unsteadily, so Dad held it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rocked	rock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rock** | past | the ladder |  |  |  |  | unsteadily *property* | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hold** | past | Dad | ladder |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wrote unsteadily with his cold fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x5:1
# text = He wrote unsteadily with his cold fingers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with his cold fingers; unsteadily *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She climbed unsteadily onto the rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x6:1
# text = She climbed unsteadily onto the rock.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | She |  |  | the rock |  | unsteadily *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto rock=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Something blew out the light,” he said a little unsteadily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteadily:x7:1
# text = “Something blew out the light,” he said a little unsteadily.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	_
13	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow out** *in a quote* | past | Something | the light |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent light=Patient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [unstable](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unstable/)
- next →: [unsteady](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/)
- ↑ back to [U in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/)