---
title: wobbly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wobbly» in the school dictionary: Something wobbly moves or shakes from side to side because it is not firm or steady: a wobbly table, a wobbly tooth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wobbly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** side, legs, you, wobbly line, front tooth, table · **What happens:** not be, be, throw, mean, get, put · **To what, where:** wobbly, book, leg, goodbye, bike, wobbly chair · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wobbly» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [wobbly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wobbly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something wobbly moves or shakes from side to side because it is not firm or steady: a wobbly table, a wobbly tooth.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:m1:1
# text = Something wobbly moves or shakes from side to side because it is not firm or steady: a wobbly table, a wobbly tooth.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shakes	shake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	acl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | side |  |  |  |  | firm *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | side *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
If your legs or voice are wobbly, they are shaky because you are tired, ill, scared or upset.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:m2:1
# text = If your legs or voice are wobbly, they are shaky because you are tired, ill, scared or upset.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	shaky	shaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | your legs or voice |  |  |  |  | wobbly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | legs *= leg* |  |  |  |  | shaky *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wobbly line is not straight or neat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:m3:1
# text = A wobbly line is not straight or neat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	neat	neat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | a wobbly line |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a wobbly line *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To throw a wobbly means to suddenly get very angry or upset.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:m4:1
# text = To throw a wobbly means to suddenly get very angry or upset.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | to-infinitive |  | a wobbly |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wobbly=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | angry, suddenly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My front tooth is wobbly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x1:1
# text = My front tooth is wobbly.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My front tooth |  |  |  |  | wobbly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This table is wobbly, so put a book under the leg.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x2:1
# text = This table is wobbly, so put a book under the leg.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	under	under	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this table |  |  |  |  | wobbly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **put** | infinitive | this table *not said here* | a book |  | the leg |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent book=Theme under leg=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jelly was red and wobbly.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the jelly |  |  |  |  | red *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the jelly *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her legs felt wobbly after the long run.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x4:1
# text = Her legs felt wobbly after the long run.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	run	run	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His voice went wobbly when he said goodbye.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x5:1
# text = His voice went wobbly when he said goodbye.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	goodbye	goodbye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | His voice |  |  |  |  | wobbly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | voice | goodbye |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent goodbye=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I rode my bike, but I was a bit wobbly at first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x6:1
# text = I rode my bike, but I was a bit wobbly at first.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ride** | past | I | my bike |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; wobbly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x7:1
# text = Don't stand on that wobbly 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	wobbly	wobbly	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 wobbly chair |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on chair=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother threw a wobbly when the ice cream fell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wobbly:x8:1
# text = My little brother threw a wobbly when the ice cream fell.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | My little brother | a wobbly |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wobbly=Theme |
| 2 | **fall** | past | the ice cream |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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