complain Who acts: you, they, He, me, We, Grandma · What happens: complain, be, not be, fix, have, do · To what, where: someone, them, problem, illness, charge, something · Speech: someone speaks here
«complain» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: complain in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To complain is to say that you are not happy or not satisfied about something.
The tree, 15 words mark csubj cop mark mark nsubj cop advmod ccomp cc advmod conj case obl punct root To PART complain VERB is AUX to PART say VERB that SCONJ you PRON are AUX not PART happy ADJ or CCONJ not PART satisfied ADJ about ADP something PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 complain mark 2 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 say csubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 say cop 4 to to PART _ 5 say mark 5 say say VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 6 that that SCONJ _ 10 happy mark 7 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 10 happy nsubj 8 are be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 happy cop 9 not not PART Polarity=Neg 10 happy advmod 10 happy happy ADJ Degree=Pos 5 say ccomp 11 or or CCONJ _ 13 satisfied cc 12 not not PART Polarity=Neg 13 satisfied advmod 13 satisfied satisfied ADJ Degree=Pos 10 happy conj 14 about about ADP _ 15 something case 15 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 13 satisfied obl 16 . . PUNCT _ 5 say punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other to-infinitive vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 be speech: assert present say property tree rules 3 not is present you happy property tree rules 4 not be you not said here about something tree rules
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 To complain to someone in charge is to tell them formally about a problem so they fix it.
The tree, 18 words mark advcl case obl case nmod cop mark iobj advmod advmod det obl advmod nsubj advcl obj punct root To PART complain VERB to ADP someone PRON in ADP charge NOUN is AUX to PART tell VERB them PRON formally ADV about ADV a DET problem NOUN so ADV they PRON fix VERB it PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 complain mark 2 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf 9 tell advcl 3 to to ADP _ 4 someone case 4 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 2 complain obl 5 in in ADP _ 6 charge case 6 charge charge NOUN Number=Sing 4 someone nmod 7 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 tell cop 8 to to PART _ 9 tell mark 9 tell tell VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 10 them they PRON Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 9 tell iobj 11 formally formally ADV _ 14 problem advmod 12 about about ADV _ 14 problem advmod 13 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 14 problem det 14 problem problem NOUN Number=Sing 9 tell obl 15 so so ADV _ 17 fix advmod 16 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 17 fix nsubj 17 fix fix VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 tell advcl 18 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 17 fix obj 19 . . PUNCT _ 9 tell punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other to-infinitive someone vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to someone=Recipient 2 is present them = they a problem obl ; tell property tree rules 3 fix present they problem vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent it=Patient
Meaning 3 To complain of a pain or illness is to say you have it.
mark advcl case det obl cc conj cop mark nsubj ccomp obj punct root To PART complain VERB of ADP a DET pain NOUN or CCONJ illness NOUN is AUX to PART say VERB you PRON have VERB it PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 complain mark 2 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf 10 say advcl 3 of of ADP _ 5 pain case 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 pain det 5 pain pain NOUN Number=Sing 2 complain obl 6 or or CCONJ _ 7 illness cc 7 illness illness NOUN Number=Sing 5 pain conj 8 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 say cop 9 to to PART _ 10 say mark 10 say say VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 11 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 12 have nsubj 12 have have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 say ccomp 13 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 12 have obj 14 . . PUNCT _ 10 say punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other to-infinitive of a pain or illness vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 be speech: assert present say property tree rules 3 have present you illness vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient
Meaning 4 To complain of someone is to tell someone in charge that they did something wrong.
The tree, 15 words mark advcl case obl cop mark obj case obl mark nsubj advcl obj amod punct root To PART complain VERB of ADP someone PRON is AUX to PART tell VERB someone PRON in ADP charge NOUN that SCONJ they PRON did VERB something PRON wrong ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 complain mark 2 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 tell advcl 3 of of ADP _ 4 someone case 4 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 2 complain obl 5 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 tell cop 6 to to PART _ 7 tell mark 7 tell tell VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 8 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 tell obj 9 in in ADP _ 10 charge case 10 charge charge NOUN Number=Sing 7 tell obl 11 that that SCONJ _ 13 did mark 12 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 13 did nsubj 13 did do VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 7 tell advcl 14 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 13 did obj 15 wrong wrong ADJ Degree=Pos 14 something amod 16 . . PUNCT _ 7 tell punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other to-infinitive of someone vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 is present charge tell property tree rules 3 do past they something vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality
Example 1 He complained about the cold dinner.
nsubj case det amod obl punct root He PRON complained VERB about ADP the DET cold ADJ dinner NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 2 complained nsubj 2 complained complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 about about ADP _ 6 dinner case 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 dinner det 5 cold cold ADJ Degree=Pos 6 dinner amod 6 dinner dinner NOUN Number=Sing 2 complained obl 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 complained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other past He about the cold dinner vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about dinner=Topic
Example 2 Stop complaining and help me carry this.
xcomp cc conj obj xcomp obj punct root Stop VERB complaining VERB and CCONJ help VERB me PRON carry VERB this PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Stop stop VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 complaining complain VERB VerbForm=Ger 1 Stop xcomp 3 and and CCONJ _ 4 help cc 4 help help VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 1 Stop conj 5 me I PRON Case=Acc Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 4 help obj 6 carry carry VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 help xcomp 7 this this PRON Number=Sing PronType=Dem 6 carry obj 8 . . PUNCT _ 1 Stop punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 stop imperative you not said here vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality 2 complain speech: other gerund you not said here vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 help infinitive you not said here me vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S_INF»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary clause=Theme 4 carry infinitive me not said here this vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent this=Theme
Example 3 We complained to the shop about the broken toy.
nsubj case det obl case det amod obl punct root We PRON complained VERB to ADP the DET shop NOUN about ADP the DET broken VERB toy NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 We we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 2 complained nsubj 2 complained complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 to to ADP _ 5 shop case 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 shop det 5 shop shop NOUN Number=Sing 2 complained obl 6 about about ADP _ 9 toy case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 toy det 8 broken break VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 9 toy amod 9 toy toy NOUN Number=Sing 2 complained obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 2 complained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other past We the shop about the broken toy vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to shop=Recipient about toy=Topic 2 break participle vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient
Example 4 Grandma complained of a sore knee.
nsubj case det amod obl punct root Grandma NOUN complained VERB of ADP a DET sore ADJ knee NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Grandma grandma NOUN Number=Sing 2 complained nsubj 2 complained complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 of of ADP _ 6 knee case 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 knee det 5 sore sore ADJ Degree=Pos 6 knee amod 6 knee knee NOUN Number=Sing 2 complained obl 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 complained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other past Grandma of a sore knee vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 5 I can't complain; it was a great day.
nsubj aux advmod punct nsubj cop det amod obl punct root I PRON ca AUX n't PART complain VERB ; PUNCT it PRON was AUX a DET great ADJ day NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 4 complain nsubj 2 ca can AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 complain aux 3 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 4 complain advmod 4 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 ; ; PUNCT _ 10 day punct 6 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 day nsubj 7 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 10 day cop 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 day det 9 great great ADJ Degree=Pos 10 day amod 10 day day NOUN Number=Sing 4 complain obl 11 . . PUNCT _ 4 complain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not complain speech: other can I vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 is a past it a great day tree rules
Example 6 The neighbours complained about the loud music.
det nsubj case det amod obl punct root The DET neighbours NOUN complained VERB about ADP the DET loud ADJ music NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 neighbours det 2 neighbours neighbour NOUN Number=Plur 3 complained nsubj 3 complained complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 about about ADP _ 7 music case 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 music det 6 loud loud ADJ Degree=Pos 7 music amod 7 music music NOUN Number=Sing 3 complained obl 8 . . PUNCT _ 3 complained punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other past the neighbours about the loud music vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about music=Topic
Example 7 If someone is unkind, you can complain to a teacher.
mark nsubj cop advcl punct nsubj aux case det obl punct root If SCONJ someone PRON is AUX unkind ADJ , PUNCT you PRON can AUX complain VERB to ADP a DET teacher NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 If if SCONJ _ 4 unkind mark 2 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 4 unkind nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 unkind cop 4 unkind unkind ADJ Degree=Pos 8 complain advcl 5 , , PUNCT _ 4 unkind punct 6 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 8 complain nsubj 7 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 8 complain aux 8 complain complain VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 9 to to ADP _ 11 teacher case 10 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 11 teacher det 11 teacher teacher NOUN Number=Sing 8 complain obl 12 . . PUNCT _ 8 complain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a condition, not said to happen present someone unkind property tree rules 2 complain speech: other can you a teacher vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to teacher=Recipient
Example 8 She never complains, even when she's tired.
nsubj advmod punct advmod mark nsubj cop ccomp punct root She PRON never ADV complains VERB , PUNCT even ADV when SCONJ she PRON 's AUX tired ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 She she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 complains nsubj 2 never never ADV PronType=Neg 3 complains advmod 3 complains complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 , , PUNCT _ 9 tired punct 5 even even ADV _ 9 tired advmod 6 when when SCONJ _ 9 tired mark 7 she she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 9 tired nsubj 8 's be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 tired cop 9 tired tired ADJ Degree=Pos 3 complains ccomp 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 complains punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not complain speech: other present She vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 is present she tired property tree rules
Example 9 “I complain of Nibs,” he cried promptly.
punct nsubj case obl punct punct nsubj parataxis advmod punct root “ PUNCT I PRON complain VERB of ADP Nibs NOUN , PUNCT ” PUNCT he PRON cried VERB promptly ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 “ " PUNCT _ 3 complain punct 2 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 3 complain nsubj 3 complain complain VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 of of ADP _ 5 Nibs case 5 Nibs nib NOUN Number=Plur 3 complain obl 6 , , PUNCT _ 3 complain punct 7 ” " PUNCT _ 3 complain punct 8 he he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 9 cried nsubj 9 cried cry VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 complain parataxis 10 promptly promptly ADV _ 9 cried advmod 11 . . PUNCT _ 3 complain punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 complain speech: other in a quote present I of Nibs vn complain-37.8 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 cry speech: express past he promptly property vn manner_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent
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.
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