fumbling

Who acts: you, ball, She, rain, He, fingers · What happens: use, drop, not do, search, speak, act · To what, where: hands, clumsy unsure way, things, job, pocket, nervous unsure way · Speech: someone speaks here

«fumbling» 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: fumbling in the school dictionary.

Meaning 1

Using your hands in a clumsy, unsure way, so you drop things or cannot do a job neatly.

The tree, 19 words

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Using	use	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	root	root
2	your	your	PRON	Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	3 hands	nmod:poss
3	hands	hand	NOUN	Number=Plur	1 Using	obj
4	in	in	ADP	_	9 way	case
5	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	9 way	det
6	clumsy	clumsy	ADJ	Degree=Pos	9 way	amod
7	,	,	PUNCT	_	6 clumsy	punct
8	unsure	unsure	ADJ	Degree=Pos	9 way	amod
9	way	way	NOUN	Number=Sing	1 Using	obl
10	,	,	PUNCT	_	13 drop	punct
11	so	so	ADV	_	13 drop	advmod
12	you	you	PRON	Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs	13 drop	nsubj
13	drop	drop	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin	1 Using	parataxis
14	things	thing	NOUN	Number=Plur	13 drop	obj
15	or	or	CCONJ	_	18 do	cc
16	can	can	AUX	VerbForm=Fin	18 do	aux
17	not	not	PART	Polarity=Neg	18 do	advmod
18	do	do	VERB	VerbForm=Inf	13 drop	conj
19	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	20 job	det
20	job	job	NOUN	Number=Sing	18 do	obj
21	neatly	neatly	ADV	_	18 do	advmod
22	.	.	PUNCT	_	1 Using	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	where	other	roles by
1	use	gerund		your hands	a clumsy unsure way		vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient
2	drop	present	you	things			vn put_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme
3	not do	can	you not said here	a job		neatly property	vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality

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

Searching for something awkwardly, for example in a pocket or in the dark.

The tree, 13 words

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Searching	search	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	root	root
2	for	for	ADP	_	3 something	case
3	something	something	PRON	Number=Sing PronType=Ind	1 Searching	obl
4	awkwardly	awkwardly	ADJ	Degree=Pos	3 something	amod
5	,	,	PUNCT	_	7 example	punct
6	for	for	ADP	_	7 example	case
7	example	example	NOUN	Number=Sing	1 Searching	obl
8	in	in	ADP	_	10 pocket	case
9	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	10 pocket	det
10	pocket	pocket	NOUN	Number=Sing	1 Searching	obl
11	or	or	CCONJ	_	14 dark	cc
12	in	in	ADP	_	14 dark	case
13	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	14 dark	det
14	dark	dark	NOUN	Number=Sing	10 pocket	conj
15	.	.	PUNCT	_	1 Searching	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	to whom	where	when	other	roles by
1	search	gerund				a pocket or the dark		for something; for example	vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for something=Theme in pocket=Location

Meaning 3

Speaking or acting in a nervous, unsure way, without finding the right words.

The tree, 13 words

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Speaking	speak	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	root	root
2	or	or	CCONJ	_	3 acting	cc
3	acting	act	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	1 Speaking	conj
4	in	in	ADP	_	9 way	case
5	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	9 way	det
6	nervous	nervous	ADJ	Degree=Pos	9 way	amod
7	,	,	PUNCT	_	6 nervous	punct
8	unsure	unsure	ADJ	Degree=Pos	9 way	amod
9	way	way	NOUN	Number=Sing	3 acting	obl
10	,	,	PUNCT	_	12 finding	punct
11	without	without	SCONJ	_	12 finding	mark
12	finding	find	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	1 Speaking	conj
13	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	15 words	det
14	right	right	ADJ	Degree=Pos	15 words	amod
15	words	word	NOUN	Number=Plur	12 finding	obj
16	.	.	PUNCT	_	1 Speaking	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	what, whom	where	roles by
1	speak speech: other	gerund			vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent
2	act	gerund		a nervous unsure way	vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
3	find	gerund	the right words		vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Topic

Meaning 4

Usage: sport — kept apart, not parsed.

Dropping or failing to hold a ball you should have caught, especially in American football or cricket.

The tree, 17 words

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Dropping	drop	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	root	root
2	or	or	CCONJ	_	3 failing	cc
3	failing	fail	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	1 Dropping	conj
4	to	to	PART	_	5 hold	mark
5	hold	hold	VERB	VerbForm=Inf	3 failing	xcomp
6	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	7 ball	det
7	ball	ball	NOUN	Number=Sing	5 hold	obj
8	you	you	PRON	Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs	11 caught	nsubj:pass
9	should	should	AUX	VerbForm=Fin	11 caught	aux
10	have	have	AUX	VerbForm=Inf	11 caught	aux
11	caught	catch	VERB	Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass	7 ball	acl:relcl
12	,	,	PUNCT	_	16 football	punct
13	especially	especially	ADV	_	16 football	advmod
14	in	in	ADP	_	16 football	case
15	American	American	ADJ	Degree=Pos	16 football	amod
16	football	football	NOUN	Number=Sing	11 caught	obl
17	or	or	CCONJ	_	18 cricket	cc
18	cricket	cricket	NOUN	Number=Sing	16 football	conj
19	.	.	PUNCT	_	1 Dropping	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	where	roles by
1	drop	gerund				vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme
2	fail	gerund				vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality
3	not hold	to-infinitive		a ball		vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Theme
4	catch	should · perfect · passive	a ball not said here	you	American football or cricket	vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme

Example 1

She was fumbling with her keys while the rain poured down.

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 fumbling	nsubj
2	was	be	AUX	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	3 fumbling	aux
3	fumbling	fumble	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	root	root
4	with	with	ADP	_	6 keys	case
5	her	her	PRON	Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	6 keys	nmod:poss
6	keys	key	NOUN	Number=Plur	3 fumbling	obl
7	while	while	SCONJ	_	10 poured	mark
8	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	9 rain	det
9	rain	rain	NOUN	Number=Sing	10 poured	nsubj
10	poured	pour	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	3 fumbling	advcl
11	down	down	ADV	_	10 poured	advmod
12	.	.	PUNCT	_	3 fumbling	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	to whom	where	when	other	roles by
1	fumble	past · progressive	She					with her keys	vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent
2	pour down	past	the rain					down property	vn substance_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source

Example 2

He went fumbling for the light switch in the dark hall.

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 went	nsubj
2	went	go	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
3	fumbling	fumble	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	2 went	xcomp
4	for	for	ADP	_	7 switch	case
5	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	7 switch	det
6	light	light	NOUN	Number=Sing	7 switch	compound
7	switch	switch	NOUN	Number=Sing	3 fumbling	obl
8	in	in	ADP	_	11 hall	case
9	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	11 hall	det
10	dark	dark	ADJ	Degree=Pos	11 hall	amod
11	hall	hall	NOUN	Number=Sing	7 switch	nmod
12	.	.	PUNCT	_	2 went	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	to whom	where	when	other	roles by
1	go	past	He						vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic
2	fumble	gerund	He not said here					for the light switch in the dark hall	vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for switch=Theme

Example 3

My fingers were so cold that I kept fumbling with my coat buttons.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	My	my	PRON	Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	2 fingers	nmod:poss
2	fingers	finger	NOUN	Number=Plur	5 cold	nsubj
3	were	be	AUX	Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	5 cold	cop
4	so	so	ADV	_	5 cold	advmod
5	cold	cold	ADJ	Degree=Pos	root	root
6	that	that	SCONJ	_	8 kept	mark
7	I	I	PRON	Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs	8 kept	nsubj
8	kept	keep	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	5 cold	advcl
9	fumbling	fumble	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	8 kept	xcomp
10	with	with	ADP	_	13 buttons	case
11	my	my	PRON	Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	13 buttons	nmod:poss
12	coat	coat	NOUN	Number=Sing	13 buttons	compound
13	buttons	button	NOUN	Number=Plur	9 fumbling	obl
14	.	.	PUNCT	_	5 cold	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	other	roles by
1	is	past	My fingers	cold property	tree rules
2	keep	past	I		tree rules
3	fumble	gerund	I not said here	with my coat buttons	vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent

Example 4

Tom gave a fumbling answer because he had not done the reading.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	Number=Sing	2 gave	nsubj
2	gave	give	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
3	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	5 answer	det
4	fumbling	fumble	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	5 answer	amod
5	answer	answer	NOUN	Number=Sing	2 gave	obj
6	because	because	SCONJ	_	10 done	mark
7	he	he	PRON	Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs	10 done	nsubj
8	had	have	AUX	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	10 done	aux
9	not	not	PART	Polarity=Neg	10 done	advmod
10	done	do	VERB	Tense=Past VerbForm=Part	2 gave	advcl
11	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	12 reading	det
12	reading	reading	NOUN	Number=Sing	10 done	obj
13	.	.	PUNCT	_	2 gave	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	roles by
1	give	past	Tom	a fumbling answer	vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme
2	fumble	gerund			vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent
3	not do	past · perfect	Tom	the reading	vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reading=Eventuality

Example 5

The goalkeeper's fumbling let the ball slip into the net.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	The	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	2 goalkeeper	det
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	Number=Sing	8 slip	nsubj
3	's	's	PART	_	2 goalkeeper	case
4	fumbling	fumble	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	2 goalkeeper	acl
5	let	let	VERB	VerbForm=Inf	4 fumbling	xcomp
6	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	7 ball	det
7	ball	ball	NOUN	Number=Sing	5 let	obj
8	slip	slip	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin	root	root
9	into	into	ADP	_	11 net	case
10	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	11 net	det
11	net	net	NOUN	Number=Sing	8 slip	obl
12	.	.	PUNCT	_	8 slip	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	where	roles by
1	fumble	gerund	the goalkeeper not said here			tree rules
2	let	infinitive	the goalkeeper not said here	the ball		vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Theme
3	slip	present	the goalkeeper		the net	vn calibratable_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute

Example 6

Fumbling in her bag, Gran finally found her glasses.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	Fumbling	fumble	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	8 found	advcl
2	in	in	ADP	_	4 bag	case
3	her	her	PRON	Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	4 bag	nmod:poss
4	bag	bag	NOUN	Number=Sing	1 Fumbling	obl
5	,	,	PUNCT	_	1 Fumbling	punct
6	Gran	Gran	PROPN	Number=Sing	8 found	nsubj
7	finally	finally	ADV	_	8 found	advmod
8	found	find	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
9	her	she	PRON	Case=Acc Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs	8 found	obj
10	glasses	glass	NOUN	Number=Plur	8 found	obj
11	.	.	PUNCT	_	8 found	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	to whom	where	when	other	roles by
1	fumble	gerund	Gran not said here			her bag			vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent in bag=Location
2	find	past	Gran	her = she				finally property	vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent she=Theme glass=Attribute

Example 7

After some fumbling, the new boy managed to open his locker.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	After	after	SCONJ	_	3 fumbling	mark
2	some	some	DET	PronType=Ind	3 fumbling	nsubj
3	fumbling	fumble	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	8 managed	advcl
4	,	,	PUNCT	_	3 fumbling	punct
5	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	7 boy	det
6	new	new	ADJ	Degree=Pos	7 boy	amod
7	boy	boy	NOUN	Number=Sing	8 managed	nsubj
8	managed	manage	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
9	to	to	PART	_	10 open	mark
10	open	open	VERB	VerbForm=Inf	8 managed	xcomp
11	his	his	PRON	Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	12 locker	nmod:poss
12	locker	locker	NOUN	Number=Sing	10 open	obj
13	.	.	PUNCT	_	8 managed	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	roles by
1	fumble	gerund	some		vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent
2	manage	past	the new boy		vn succeed-74-1-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality
3	open	to-infinitive	the new boy not said here	boy's locker	vn spatial_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location locker=Theme

Example 8

The quarterback's fumbling cost the team the game.

The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)

#	word	lemma	UPOS	features	head	relation
1	The	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	2 quarterback	det
2	quarterback	quarterback	NOUN	Number=Sing	5 cost	nsubj
3	's	's	PART	_	2 quarterback	case
4	fumbling	fumble	VERB	VerbForm=Ger	2 quarterback	acl
5	cost	cost	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
6	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	7 team	det
7	team	team	NOUN	Number=Sing	5 cost	obj
8	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	9 game	det
9	game	game	NOUN	Number=Sing	5 cost	obj
10	.	.	PUNCT	_	5 cost	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	what, whom	to whom	where	when	other	roles by
1	fumble	gerund	the quarterback not said here						vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent
2	cost	past	the quarterback	the team					vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Theme team=Beneficiary game=Value

Example 9

She sank down on the threshold, overcome with weariness, but in a moment was on her feet again, fumbling with the lock of the chest.

The tree, 25 words

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	2 sank	nsubj
2	sank	sink	VERB	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	root	root
3	down	down	ADV	_	2 sank	advmod
4	on	on	ADP	_	6 threshold	case
5	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	6 threshold	det
6	threshold	threshold	NOUN	Number=Sing	2 sank	obl
7	,	,	PUNCT	_	8 overcome	punct
8	overcome	overcome	VERB	Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin	2 sank	parataxis
9	with	with	ADP	_	10 weariness	case
10	weariness	weariness	NOUN	Number=Sing	8 overcome	obl
11	,	,	PUNCT	_	19 feet	punct
12	but	but	CCONJ	_	19 feet	cc
13	in	in	ADP	_	15 moment	case
14	a	a	DET	Definite=Ind PronType=Art	15 moment	det
15	moment	moment	NOUN	Number=Sing	19 feet	obl
16	was	be	AUX	Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin	19 feet	cop
17	on	on	ADP	_	19 feet	case
18	her	her	PRON	Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs	19 feet	nmod:poss
19	feet	foot	NOUN	Number=Plur	2 sank	obl:unmarked
20	again	again	ADV	_	19 feet	advmod
21	,	,	PUNCT	_	22 fumbling	punct
22	fumbling	fumble	VERB	Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part	2 sank	advcl
23	with	with	ADP	_	25 lock	case
24	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	25 lock	det
25	lock	lock	NOUN	Number=Sing	22 fumbling	obl
26	of	of	ADP	_	28 chest	case
27	the	the	DET	Definite=Def PronType=Art	28 chest	det
28	chest	chest	NOUN	Number=Sing	25 lock	nmod
29	.	.	PUNCT	_	2 sank	punct

#	verb	tense, mood	who	where	when	other	roles by
1	sink down	past	She	the threshold		down property	vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient
2	overcome	infinitive				with weariness	vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot
3	is	past		her feet	again; moment		tree rules
4	fumble	gerund	She not said here			with the lock of the chest	vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: 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.

This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fumbling/