---
title: cliff — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cliff» in the school dictionary: A cliff is a high, steep wall of rock or earth, often at the edge of the sea. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cliff

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cliff, cliffhanger, that, you, Seabirds, We · **What happens:** be, end, want, know, happen, make · **To what, where:** high steep wall, story, White Cliffs, cliffs, cliff path, cliffhanger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cliff» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [cliff in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cliff.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cliff is a high, steep wall of rock or earth, often at the edge of the sea.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:m1:1
# text = A cliff is a high, steep wall of rock or earth, often at the edge of the sea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cliff | a high steep wall and the edge of the sea |  |  |  | of rock or earth | 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 -->
A cliffhanger is a story or episode that ends at an exciting moment so you want to know what happens next.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:m2:1
# text = A cliffhanger is a story or episode that ends at an exciting moment so you want to know what happens next.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	episode	episode	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	20	nsubj	_	_
20	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	ccomp	_	_
21	next	next	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cliffhanger | a story or episode |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** | present | that |  |  |  | moment |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  |  | next *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x1:1
# text = The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	White	White	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Cliffs	Cliff	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Dover	Dover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | the White Cliffs of Dover |  |  |  | of chalk | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stay away from the edge of the cliff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x2:1
# text = Stay away from the edge of the cliff.
1	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seabirds nest on the cliffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x3:1
# text = Seabirds nest on the cliffs.
1	Seabirds	seabird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nest	nest	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	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nest** | present | Seabirds |  |  | the cliffs |  |  | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We walked along the cliff path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x4:1
# text = We walked along the cliff path.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	along	along	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	path	path	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 | **walk** | past | We |  |  | the cliff path |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along path=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The waves crash against the cliffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x5:1
# text = The waves crash against the cliffs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crash	crash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crash** | present | the waves |  |  | the cliffs |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme against cliff=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book ended on a cliffhanger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x6:1
# text = The book ended on a cliffhanger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	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 | **end** | past | the book |  |  | a cliffhanger |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cliff edge was crumbling, so they put up a fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x7:1
# text = The cliff edge was crumbling, so they put up a fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	crumbling	crumble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | past · progressive | the cliff edge |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **put up** | past | they | a fence |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent fence=Goal |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Goat looked over the edge of the cliff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliff:x8:1
# text = The Goat looked over the edge of the cliff.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Goat	Goat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the Goat |  |  |  |  | over the edge of the cliff | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent over edge=Theme |

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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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