---
title: clue — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clue» in the school dictionary: A clue is a piece of information that helps you solve a mystery, puzzle or problem. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clue

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clue, information, you, detective, I, shoe · **What happens:** be, help, solve, give, not have, mean · **To what, where:** piece, you, mystery, hint, puzzle, clue · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clue» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [clue in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clue.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clue is a piece of information that helps you solve a mystery, puzzle or problem.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:m1:1
# text = A clue is a piece of information that helps you solve a mystery, puzzle or problem.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clue	clue	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	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	mystery	mystery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clue | a piece |  |  |  | of information | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | information | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **solve** | infinitive | you *not said here* | a mystery and puzzle or problem |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mystery=Topic |

<!-- .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 clue is a hint given in a puzzle or crossword.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:m2:1
# text = A clue is a hint given in a puzzle or crossword.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clue	clue	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	hint	hint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	crossword	crossword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clue | a hint |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | a hint *not said here* |  | a puzzle or crossword |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Not have a clue» means not to know anything about something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:m3:1
# text = «Not have a clue» means not to know anything about something.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a clue |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | anything |  |  |  | about something | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer anything=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old word for a ball of thread or string, which can be thrown or unwound to find your way.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:m4:1
# text = An old word for a ball of thread or string, which can be thrown or unwound to find your way.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	unwound	unwind	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | can · passive |  | a ball of thread or string |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **unwind** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | your way |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective found a clue under the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x1:1
# text = The detective found a clue under the window.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	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	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the detective | a clue |  | the window |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Here's a clue: it is yellow and you can eat it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x2:1
# text = Here's a clue: it is yellow and you can eat it.
1	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a clue |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | clue | a clue *not said here* |  |  |  | yellow *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **eat** | can | you | clue |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use clues in the picture to guess the word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x3:1
# text = Use clues in the picture to guess the word.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | clues |  | the picture |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Patient |
| 2 | **guess** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the word |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I haven't got a clue where my shoe is.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x4:1
# text = I haven't got a clue where my shoe is.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **get** | present · perfect | I | a clue |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer clue=Stimulus |
| 2 | **be** | present | my shoe |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We followed the clues on the treasure hunt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x5:1
# text = We followed the clues on the treasure hunt.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	hunt	hunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | We | the clues |  | the treasure hunt |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent clue=Theme on hunt=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muddy footprints were the main clue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x6:1
# text = Muddy footprints were the main clue.
1	Muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	footprints	footprint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Muddy footprints | the main clue |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the crossword clue again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clue:x7:1
# text = Read the crossword clue again.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	crossword	crossword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the crossword clue |  |  | again |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**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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