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# improper

adjective (improper)

«improper» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not suitable or not polite for the situation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#m1)
2. Not correct or not following the rules. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#m2)
3. In maths: «improper fraction» — a fraction whose top number is equal to or bigger than the bottom number, like 7/4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#m3)

### In the lessons

In maths it is a key term: improper fractions are greater than or equal to 1 and can be changed to mixed numbers (7/4 = 1 3/4). In everyday life and safety: improper use of tools can cause accidents. In stories: improper behaviour, an improper remark.

### Examples

- Turn the improper fraction 9/4 into a mixed number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x1)
- 5/5 is an improper fraction equal to 1. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x2)
- Improper use of the ladder caused the fall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x3)
- It is improper to shout in the library. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x4)
- The bin was full of improper waste. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x5)
- He made an improper comment and had to apologise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x6)
- "'I think it highly improper,' said the tea-kettle, who was kitchen singer, and half-brother to the tea-urn, 'that a rich foreign bird should be listened to here. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: proper. Adverb: improperly. Maths: in an improper fraction the numerator is bigger than or equal to the denominator; its value is 1 or more. 11/3 = 3 2/3. A proper fraction is less than 1.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «improper» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improper/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«improper» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/improper.html) on Mova free.