---
title: falter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «falter» in the school dictionary: To falter is to stop or go weak for a moment, for example when the voice shakes or the feet slow down. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# falter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** voice, feet, bo'sun, prince, legs, soldier · **What happens:** falter, be, go, shake, slow down, mean · **To what, where:** courage, bo'sun, Muffette, steep hill, fire · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«falter» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 4 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: [falter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/falter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To falter is to stop or go weak for a moment, for example when the voice shakes or the feet slow down.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:m1:1
# text = To falter is to stop or go weak for a moment, for example when the voice shakes or the feet slow down.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	falter	falter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
15	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	18	mark	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	shakes	shake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
22	slow	slow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
23	down	down	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **falter** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | stop *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for example; weak *property* | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for example=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **shake** | present | the voice |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **slow down** | present | the feet |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To falter can mean to lose courage and nearly give up, but not quite.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:m2:1
# text = To falter can mean to lose courage and nearly give up, but not quite.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	falter	falter	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can · infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lose** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | courage |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent courage=Eventuality |
| 3 | **give up** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | nearly *property* | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bo'sun faltered when he was asked why.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:x1:1
# text = The bo'sun faltered when he was asked why.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bo'sun	bo'sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faltered	falter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
8	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **falter** | past | the bo'sun |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past · passive |  | bo'sun |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Is the prince dead?» faltered Muffette.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:x2:1
# text = «Is the prince dead?» faltered Muffette.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	faltered	falter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Muffette	Muffette	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the prince |  |  |  |  | dead *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **falter** | past |  | Muffette |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His legs began to falter on the steep hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:x3:1
# text = His legs began to falter on the steep hill.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	falter	falter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | His legs |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **falter** | to-infinitive | His legs *not said here* |  |  | the steep hill |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on hill=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Even under fire, the soldier did not falter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:falter:x4:1
# text = Even under fire, the soldier did not falter.
1	Even	even	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	under	under	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	falter	falter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **falter** | past · do-support | the soldier |  |  | fire |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under fire=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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