---
title: banister — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «banister» in the school dictionary: A banister is the rail along the side of a staircase that you hold on to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# banister

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** banister, you, Banisters, posts, cat, old house · **What happens:** be, hold on, mean, hold up, hold, walk down · **To what, where:** rail, that, banister, stairs, carved wooden banister, Christmas lights

<!-- .vabout -->
«banister» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [banister in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/banister.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A banister is the rail along the side of a staircase that you hold on to.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:m1:1
# text = A banister is the rail along the side of a staircase that you hold on to.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	along	along	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a banister | the rail |  |  |  | along the side of a staircase | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold on** | present | you | that |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Banisters can also mean the rail together with the posts that hold it up.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:m2:1
# text = Banisters can also mean the rail together with the posts that hold it up.
1	Banisters	banister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rail	rail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	together	together	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	posts	post	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	up	up	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Banisters | the rail |  |  |  | with the posts; together *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rail=Topic |
| 2 | **hold up** | present | the posts | rail |  |  |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the banister when you walk down the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x1:1
# text = Hold the banister when you walk down the stairs.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the banister |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent banister=Theme |
| 2 | **walk down** | present | you | the stairs |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme stair=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't slide down the banister!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x2:1
# text = Please don't slide down the banister!
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	slide	slide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **slide down** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the banister |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent banister=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat jumped onto the banister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x3:1
# text = The cat jumped onto the banister.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	jumped	jump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | past | the cat |  |  | the banister |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto banister=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old house had a carved wooden banister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x4:1
# text = The old house had a carved wooden banister.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	carved	carve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
7	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the old house | a carved wooden banister |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent banister=Patient |
| 2 | **carve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad needs the banister to climb the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x5:1
# text = Grandad needs the banister to climb the stairs.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Grandad | the banister |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot banister=Theme |
| 2 | **climb** | to-infinitive | Grandad *not said here* | the stairs |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location stair=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We hung Christmas lights along the banister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x6:1
# text = We hung Christmas lights along the banister.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	banister	banister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | past | We | Christmas lights |  | the banister |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent light=Theme along banister=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some sit on the banisters of steep stairs, others on the outer rails of lofty towers, or spring like squirrels along the ridges of the mountains.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:banister:x7:1
# text = Some sit on the banisters of steep stairs, others on the outer rails of lofty towers, or spring like squirrels along the ridges of the mountains.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sit	sit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	banisters	banister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	outer	outer	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	lofty	lofty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	towers	tower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	_
23	along	along	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	ridges	ridge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present | Some |  |  | the banisters of steep stairs  others on the outer rails of lofty towers | spring | along the ridges of the mountains | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on banister=Location |

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**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.

<!-- /div -->

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