---
title: goblin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «goblin» in the school dictionary: A goblin is an ugly, small, mischievous or wicked creature in fairy tales and fantasy stories, often green or grey, with pointy ears. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# goblin

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**Who acts:** goblin, Goblins, knight, you · **What happens:** be, act, hide, live, chase, have · **To what, where:** ugly small creature, fairy tales, naughty child, gold, bridge, dark caves

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«goblin» 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: [goblin in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/goblin.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A goblin is an ugly, small, mischievous or wicked creature in fairy tales and fantasy stories, often green or grey, with pointy ears.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:m1:1
# text = A goblin is an ugly, small, mischievous or wicked creature in fairy tales and fantasy stories, often green or grey, with pointy ears.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
5	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	mischievous	mischievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
12	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	fantasy	fantasy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	often	often	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	parataxis	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
25	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	pointy	pointy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	ears	ear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a goblin | a ugly small creature and pointy ears |  | fairy tales and fantasy stories |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, humorous — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A goblin is a naughty child or someone acting greedily or sneakily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:m2:1
# text = A goblin is a naughty child or someone acting greedily or sneakily.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	_
9	acting	act	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	greedily	greedily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	sneakily	sneakily	ADV	RB	_	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a goblin | a naughty child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | greedily *property* | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goblin hid the gold under the bridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x1:1
# text = The goblin hid the gold under the bridge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gold	gold	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	bridge	bridge	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 | **hide** | past | the goblin | the gold |  | the bridge |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent gold=Patient under bridge=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Goblins live in dark caves in the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x2:1
# text = Goblins live in dark caves in the story.
1	Goblins	goblin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	caves	cave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Goblins |  |  | dark caves |  | in the story | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cave=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight chased the goblins out of the village.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x3:1
# text = The knight chased the goblins out of the village.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	chased	chase	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	goblins	goblin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chase** | past | the knight | the goblins |  | the village |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent goblin=Theme out village=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ugh, a goblin mask for Halloween!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x4:1
# text = Ugh, a goblin mask for Halloween!
1	Ugh	ugh	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	mask	mask	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Halloween	Halloween	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goblin had long fingers and a crooked grin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x5:1
# text = The goblin had long fingers and a crooked grin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	crooked	crooked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	grin	grin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the goblin | long fingers and a crooked grin |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop being a goblin and share the sweets!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x6:1
# text = Stop being a goblin and share the sweets!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	goblin	goblin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | gerund | you *not said here* | a goblin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **share** | present | you *not said here* | the sweets |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the game, goblins drop coins when you beat them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goblin:x7:1
# text = In the game, goblins drop coins when you beat them.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	goblins	goblin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	drop	drop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	beat	beat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | present | goblins | coins |  | the game |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent coin=Theme in game=Destination |
| 2 | **beat** | present | you | coins *= coin* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location they=Theme |

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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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