---
title: forbidding — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «forbidding» in the school dictionary: Forbidding means looking unfriendly, frightening or dangerous: a forbidding castle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# forbidding

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Forbidding, ing form, they, castle, head teacher, sign · **What happens:** mean, look, be, forbid, tell, not do · **To what, where:** ing form, someone, something, forbidding stare, us, dogs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«forbidding» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [forbidding in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/forbidding.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forbidding means looking unfriendly, frightening or dangerous: a forbidding castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:m1:1
# text = Forbidding means looking unfriendly, frightening or dangerous: a forbidding castle.
1	Forbidding	forbidding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	unfriendly	unfriendly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	forbidding	forbidding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Forbidding |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **look** *not said to happen* | gerund | Forbidding *not said here* |  |  |  |  | unfriendly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Forbidding is the -ing form of forbid: telling someone they must not do something.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:m2:1
# text = Forbidding is the -ing form of forbid: telling someone they must not do something.
1	Forbidding	forbidding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	forbid	forbid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl:relcl	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Forbidding | the ing form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forbid** | infinitive | the ing form *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | Forbidding *not said here* |  | someone |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 4 | **not** **do** | must | they | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle looked dark and forbidding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x1:1
# text = The castle looked dark and forbidding.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	forbidding	forbid	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the castle |  |  |  |  | dark *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **forbid** | gerund | the castle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher gave us a forbidding stare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x2:1
# text = The head teacher gave us a forbidding stare.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	forbidding	forbidding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	stare	stare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the head teacher | a forbidding stare | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient stare=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a sign forbidding dogs on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x3:1
# text = There is a sign forbidding dogs on the beach.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	forbidding	forbid	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a sign |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **forbid** | gerund | a sign *not said here* | dogs |  | the beach |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer dog=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The forbidding cliffs rose above the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x4:1
# text = The forbidding cliffs rose above the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	forbidding	forbidding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	above	above	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | the forbidding cliffs |  |  | the sea |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent above sea=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is forbidding sweets before dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x5:1
# text = Mum is forbidding sweets before dinner.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	forbidding	forbid	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	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 | **forbid** | present · progressive | Mum | sweets |  |  | before dinner |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer sweet=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The forest seemed forbidding at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:forbidding:x6:1
# text = The forest seemed forbidding at night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	forbidding	forbid	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the forest |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **forbid** | gerund | the forest *not said here* |  |  |  | night |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |

<!-- 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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