---
title: clapperboard — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clapperboard» in the school dictionary: A board with a hinged stick on top that is clapped shut in front of the camera at the start of each shot of a film, showing the scene and take number. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clapperboard

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** director, Action, clapperboard, We, our, clap · **What happens:** hinge, clap, shut, show, take, start · **To what, where:** top, front, scene, number, shot, boards · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clapperboard» in the school 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: [clapperboard in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clapperboard.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A board with a hinged stick on top that is clapped shut in front of the camera at the start of each shot of a film, showing the scene and take number.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:m1:1
# text = A board with a hinged stick on top that is clapped shut in front of the camera at the start of each shot of a film, showing the scene and take number.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hinged	hinge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	clapped	clap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	shut	shut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	xcomp	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	23	det	_	_
23	shot	shot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
28	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	_
31	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
32	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	30	conj	_	_
33	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hinge** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **clap** | present · passive |  | top |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shut** | participle |  |  |  | front of the camera |  | at the start of each shot of a film | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **show** | gerund |  | the scene |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent scene=Recipient |
| 5 | **take** | infinitive |  | number |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Theme |
| 6 | **start** |  |  | each shot of a film |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: North America, building — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clapboard: long, thin, overlapping boards on the outside of wooden houses.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:m2:1
# text = Clapboard: long, thin, overlapping boards on the outside of wooden houses.
1	Clapboard	clapboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	overlapping	overlap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	boards	board	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	outside	outside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overlap** | gerund |  | boards |  | the outside of wooden houses |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent board=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Action!» called the director after the clapperboard snapped shut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x1:1
# text = «Action!» called the director after the clapperboard snapped shut.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	director	director	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	clapperboard	clapperboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	snapped	snap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	shut	shut	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the director | Action *not said here* |  |  | after the clapperboard |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent action=Recipient |
| 2 | **snap** | past | Action |  |  |  |  | shut *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clapperboard showed «Scene 3, Take 2».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x2:1
# text = The clapperboard showed «Scene 3, Take 2».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clapperboard	clapperboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
9	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the clapperboard | Scene |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent scene=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | 2 |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 2=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a clapperboard for our class film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x3:1
# text = We made a clapperboard for our class film.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clapperboard	clapperboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	film	film	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 | **make** | past | We | a clapperboard |  |  |  | for our class film | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent clapperboard=Product for film=Asset |
| 2 | **film** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom film «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clap helps match the sound to the picture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x4:1
# text = The clap helps match the sound to the picture.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clap	clap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	match	match	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the clap |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **match** | infinitive | the clap *not said here* | the sound |  |  |  | to the picture | vn amalgamate-22.2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent sound=Patient to picture=Co-Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old house in Maine had white clapboard walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x5:1
# text = The old house in Maine had white clapboard walls.
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	6	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Maine	Maine	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	clapboard	clapboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the old house in Maine | white clapboard walls |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wall=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I held the clapperboard in our school play video.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clapperboard:x6:1
# text = I held the clapperboard in our school play video.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clapperboard	clapperboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | I | the clapperboard |  | our play video |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent clapperboard=Theme in video=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.

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