---
title: worse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «worse» in the school dictionary: Worse means more bad, of lower quality, or more unpleasant than something else. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# worse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Worse, He, She, cold, weather, I · **What happens:** mean, feel, sing, be, make, forget · **To what, where:** things, umbrella, bite, it, puff · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«worse» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [worse in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/worse.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worse means more bad, of lower quality, or more unpleasant than something else.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:m1:1
# text = Worse means more bad, of lower quality, or more unpleasant than something else.
1	Worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obl	_	_
15	else	else	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Worse |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Worse means more ill: «He felt worse in the night».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:m2:1
# text = Worse means more ill: «He felt worse in the night».
1	Worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Worse |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **feel** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  | night | bad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As an adverb, worse means more badly: «She sang worse than before».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:m3:1
# text = As an adverb, worse means more badly: «She sang worse than before».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
13	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	xcomp	_	_
14	than	than	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	before	before	ADV	RB	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | worse |  |  |  |  | as a adverb; badly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as adverb=Attribute |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* *in a quote* | past | She |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cold is worse today.

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

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This weather is worse than yesterday's.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x2:1
# text = This weather is worse than yesterday's.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this weather |  |  |  | yesterday | bad *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make things worse, I forgot my umbrella.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x3:1
# text = To make things worse, I forgot my umbrella.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | things |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset thing=Product |
| 2 | **forget** | past | I | my umbrella |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His handwriting is getting worse and worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x4:1
# text = His handwriting is getting worse and worse.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present · progressive | His handwriting |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **handwrite** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom handwriting «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't scratch the bite or it will get worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x5:1
# text = Don't scratch the bite or it will get worse.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	scratch	scratch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
10	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **scratch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the bite |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bite=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | future | bite |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying only made it worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x6:1
# text = Lying only made it worse.
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | past | Lying | it |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She played worse than usual.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x7:1
# text = She played worse than usual.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	_
4	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | She |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Things could be worse!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x8:1
# text = Things could be worse!
1	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | could | Things |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gives another puff--worse than ever!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:worse:x9:1
# text = He gives another puff--worse than ever!
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	puff	puff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	parataxis	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | He | another puff |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puff=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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