---
title: flashlight — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flashlight» in the school dictionary: A flashlight is a small electric light you hold in your hand, powered by batteries; in the UK, Ireland and Australia it is usually called a torch. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flashlight

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flashlight, you, power, We, Light · **What happens:** be, hold, power, call, mean, shine · **To what, where:** small electric light, hand, flashlight, flash, camera, bed · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«flashlight» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [flashlight in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flashlight.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flashlight is a small electric light you hold in your hand, powered by batteries; in the UK, Ireland and Australia it is usually called a torch.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:m1:1
# text = A flashlight is a small electric light you hold in your hand, powered by batteries; in the UK, Ireland and Australia it is usually called a torch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	powered	power	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj:pass	_	_
26	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	aux:pass	_	_
27	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
28	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flashlight | a small electric light |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | you | a small electric light *not said here* |  | your hand |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent light=Theme in hand=Location |
| 3 | **power** | participle |  | your hand *not said here* |  |  |  | by batteries | tree rules |
| 4 | **call** | present · passive |  | flashlight |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
Flashlight can also mean the flash on a camera.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:m2:1
# text = Flashlight can also mean the flash on a camera.
1	Flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flash	flash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Flashlight | the flash |  | a camera |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flash=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shine the flashlight under the bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x1:1
# text = Shine the flashlight under the bed.
1	Shine	shine	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | imperative | you *not said here* | the flashlight |  | the bed |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent flashlight=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep a flashlight ready in case the power goes out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x2:1
# text = Keep a flashlight ready in case the power goes out.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
6	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	fixed	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | a flashlight |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flashlight=Theme |
| 2 | **go out** | present | the power |  |  |  |  |  | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We read stories under the covers with a flashlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x3:1
# text = We read stories under the covers with a flashlight.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	covers	cover	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	flashlight	flashlight	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 | **read** | past | We | stories |  | the covers |  | with a flashlight | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flashlight needs new batteries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x4:1
# text = The flashlight needs new batteries.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the flashlight | new batteries |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot battery=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Light travels in straight lines from the flashlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x5:1
# text = Light travels in straight lines from the flashlight.
1	Light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | present | Light |  |  | straight lines from the flashlight |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in line=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The beam of the flashlight lit up the cave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x6:1
# text = The beam of the flashlight lit up the cave.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	lit	lit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lit up** | participle | the flashlight *not said here* | the cave |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **beam** |  |  | the flashlight |  |  |  |  | nom beam «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pack a flashlight for the camping trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashlight:x7:1
# text = Pack a flashlight for the camping trip.
1	Pack	pack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flashlight	flashlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	camping	camping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** | imperative | you *not said here* | a flashlight |  |  |  | for the camping trip | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme flashlight=Destination |

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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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