---
title: cliffhanger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cliffhanger» in the school dictionary: A cliffhanger is an exciting ending to a chapter or episode that leaves you not knowing what will happen next, so you want to read or watch more. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cliffhanger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cliffhanger, episode, you, result, chapter, I · **What happens:** be, leave, not know, happen, want, read · **To what, where:** exciting ending, you, more, contest, cliffhanger, real cliffhanger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cliffhanger» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [cliffhanger in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cliffhanger.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cliffhanger is an exciting ending to a chapter or episode that leaves you not knowing what will happen next, so you want to read or watch more.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:m1:1
# text = A cliffhanger is an exciting ending to a chapter or episode that leaves you not knowing what will happen next, so you want to read or watch more.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	episode	episode	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	19	nsubj	_	_
18	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	ccomp	_	_
20	next	next	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	so	so	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
23	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	conj	_	_
29	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cliffhanger | a exciting ending |  |  |  | to a chapter or episode | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | present | episode | you |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **know** | gerund | episode *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **happen** | future |  |  |  |  |  | next *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 6 | **read** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **watch** | infinitive | you *not said here* | more |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=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 -->
A cliffhanger is also any contest or situation where the result stays uncertain until the very end.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:m2:1
# text = A cliffhanger is also any contest or situation where the result stays uncertain until the very end.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
13	uncertain	uncertain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
14	until	until	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cliffhanger | any contest or situation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay** | present | the result |  |  |  | until the end | uncertain *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:x1:1
# text = The chapter ended on a cliffhanger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chapter	chapter	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 chapter |  |  | a cliffhanger |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I couldn't stop reading because of the cliffhangers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:x2:1
# text = I couldn't stop reading because of the cliffhangers.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cliffhangers	cliffhanger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stop** | could | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **read** | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | because the cliffhangers | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was a real cliffhanger until the final whistle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:x3:1
# text = The match was a real cliffhanger until the final whistle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	until	until	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the match | a real cliffhanger |  |  | until the final whistle |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a cliffhanger to end your story's middle part.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:x4:1
# text = Write a cliffhanger to end your story's middle part.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	middle	middle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a cliffhanger |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cliffhanger=Theme |
| 2 | **end** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your story's middle part |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality part=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The TV series always ends with a cliffhanger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cliffhanger:x5:1
# text = The TV series always ends with a cliffhanger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | the TV series |  |  |  |  | with a cliffhanger; always *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with cliffhanger=Subeventuality |

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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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