improperly
part of speech
adverb (improperly)
meaning for a pupil
1) Improperly means in a wrong or incorrect way, not as it should be done. tree →
2) Improperly means in a way that is not polite, honest or allowed. tree →
sense in the lessons
In safety lessons it warns about things done the wrong way: «improperly stored chemicals», «improperly fitted car seat». In news and law it means breaking rules: «He acted improperly». Phrases: «improperly dressed», «improperly used», «behave improperly».
examples
- The car seat was fitted improperly, so it was not safe. tree →
- Food stored improperly can make you ill. tree →
- The ladder was used improperly and it slipped. tree →
- The judge said the officer had acted improperly. tree →
- If you wash wool improperly, it shrinks. tree →
- The bin was closed improperly and the foxes got in. tree →
- He was improperly dressed for a wedding, in muddy football kit. tree →
note
Adverb from «improper». Opposite: «properly». Spelled with two «p»s in the middle: im-prop-er-ly. «Improperly» is a bit formal; in everyday speech people say «the wrong way».
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «improperly» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.