---
title: pun — Judaism dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pun» in the Judaism dictionary: A pun is a joke that uses a word with two meanings, or words that sound the same, to be funny. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pun

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pun, joke, words, I, That, Time · **What happens:** be, use, sound, pun, mean, make · **To what, where:** joke, word, same, book, pun, famous pun · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pun» in the Judaism dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [pun in the Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pun.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pun is a joke that uses a word with two meanings, or words that sound the same, to be funny.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:m1:1
# text = A pun is a joke that uses a word with two meanings, or words that sound the same, to be funny.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pun	pun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	meanings	meaning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	appos	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
17	sound	sound	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
22	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	cop	_	_
23	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pun | a joke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | a joke | a word |  |  |  | with two meanings | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 3 | **sound** | present | words | the same |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location same=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive | words *not said here* |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To pun means to make such a joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:m2:1
# text = To pun means to make such a joke.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pun	pun	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	8	det:predet	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pun** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | such joke |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset joke=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm reading a book about anti-gravity — it's impossible to put down. That's a pun!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* I'm reading a book about anti-gravity — it's impossible to put down.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x1:1
# text = I'm reading a book about anti-gravity — it's impossible to put down.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	anti-gravity	anti-gravity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	down	down	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present · progressive | I | a book |  |  |  | about anti-gravity | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **put down** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That's a pun!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x1:2
# text = That's a pun!
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pun	pun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a pun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana» is a famous pun.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x2:1
# text = «Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana» is a famous pun.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	flies	fly	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	pun	pun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** *in a quote* | present | Time |  |  |  |  | like a arrow | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fly** *in a quote* | present | fruit |  |  |  |  | like a banana | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | a famous pun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad tells terrible puns at dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x3:1
# text = Dad tells terrible puns at dinner.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	puns	pun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Dad | terrible puns |  | dinner |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent pun=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The headline used a pun on «sole» and «soul».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x4:1
# text = The headline used a pun on «sole» and «soul».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	headline	headline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pun	pun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	sole	sole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	soul	soul	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the headline | a pun |  | sole and soul |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pun=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why can't a bicycle stand up? Because it's two-tyred — a pun on «tired».

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Why can't a bicycle stand up?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x5:1
# text = Why can't a bicycle stand up?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bicycle	bicycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stand up** | can | a bicycle |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Because it's two-tyred — a pun on «tired».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x5:2
# text = Because it's two-tyred — a pun on «tired».
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	tyred	tyre	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pun	pun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tyre** | present · passive |  | bicycle |  |  |  | a pun on tired *obl* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote our own puns in English class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:judaism:pun:x6:1
# text = We wrote our own puns in English class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puns	pun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | our own puns |  | English class |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pun=Theme in class=Destination |
| 2 | **pun** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom pun «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the Judaism 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 -->

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