---
title: unsure — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unsure» in the school dictionary: Unsure means not certain or not confident about something: «I'm unsure of the answer». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unsure

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unsure, I, you, She, He, We · **What happens:** mean, be, not feel, ask, knock, feel · **To what, where:** grown up, link · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unsure means not certain or not confident about something: «I'm unsure of the answer».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:m1:1
# text = Unsure means not certain or not confident about something: «I'm unsure of the answer».
1	Unsure	unsure	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	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	confident	confident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unsure |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | of the answer; unsure *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Unsure of yourself means not feeling confident.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:m2:1
# text = Unsure of yourself means not feeling confident.
1	Unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	1	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	feeling	feel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
7	confident	confident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unsure |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **feel** *not said to happen* | gerund | Unsure *not said here* |  |  |  |  | confident *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm unsure of the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x1:1
# text = I'm unsure of the answer.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | of the answer; unsure *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you're unsure, ask a grown-up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x2:1
# text = If you're unsure, ask a grown-up.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	grown	grown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | unsure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | a grown up |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent up=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was unsure whether to knock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x3:1
# text = She was unsure whether to knock.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	knock	knock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | unsure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **knock** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt unsure of himself on his first day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x4:1
# text = He felt unsure of himself on his first day.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We were unsure about the way home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x5:1
# text = We were unsure about the way home.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	home	home	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | We |  |  |  |  | about the way; unsure *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unsure what to do, he waited.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x6:1
# text = Unsure what to do, he waited.
1	Unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	1	conj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wait** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you are unsure a link is safe, don't click it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unsure:x7:1
# text = If you are unsure a link is safe, don't click it.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	advcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	link	link	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
10	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | unsure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a link |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **click** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | link |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location it=Theme |

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**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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