---
title: unsteady — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unsteady» in the school dictionary: Unsteady means not firm, likely to wobble, shake or fall: an unsteady ladder, unsteady legs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unsteady

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unsteady, old ladder, Dad, I, voice, she · **What happens:** mean, wobble, shake, fall, change, be · **To what, where:** lot, ladder, feet, few unsteady steps, unsteady chair, ice · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unsteady means not firm, likely to wobble, shake or fall: an unsteady ladder, unsteady legs.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:m1:1
# text = Unsteady means not firm, likely to wobble, shake or fall: an unsteady ladder, unsteady legs.
1	Unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	wobble	wobble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	shake	shake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unsteady |  |  |  |  | firm *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wobble** | to-infinitive | Unsteady *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **shake** | infinitive | Unsteady *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **fall** | infinitive | Unsteady *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «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 -->
Unsteady means not regular or changing a lot: an unsteady voice, an unsteady heartbeat.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:m2:1
# text = Unsteady means not regular or changing a lot: an unsteady voice, an unsteady heartbeat.
1	Unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	heartbeat	heartbeat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unsteady |  |  |  |  | regular *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | gerund | Unsteady *not said here* | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old ladder was unsteady, so Dad held it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x1:1
# text = The old ladder was unsteady, so Dad held it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ladder	ladder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old ladder |  |  |  |  | unsteady *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | past | Dad | ladder |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the ride, I felt unsteady on my feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x2:1
# text = After the ride, I felt unsteady on my feet.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  | my feet | after the ride | unsteady *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her voice was unsteady because she was nervous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x3:1
# text = Her voice was unsteady because she was nervous.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her voice |  |  |  |  | unsteady *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby took a few unsteady steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x4:1
# text = The baby took a few unsteady steps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the baby | a few unsteady steps |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't stand on that unsteady chair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x5:1
# text = Don't stand on that unsteady chair.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
6	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	chair	chair	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 | **not** **stand** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | that unsteady chair |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on chair=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He walked unsteadily across the ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x6:1
# text = He walked unsteadily across the ice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unsteadily	unsteadily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	across	across	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ice	ice	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 | **walk** | past | He |  |  | the ice |  | unsteadily *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across ice=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“I'll beg meat for you!” said he in an unsteady voice.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsteady:x7:1
# text = “I'll beg meat for you!” said he in an unsteady voice.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	beg	beg	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
5	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beg** *speech: request* *in a quote* | future | I | meat |  |  |  | for you | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.Topic»: agent=Agent meat=Recipient for you=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | he |  |  | a unsteady voice |  |  | 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 -->

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