---
title: golly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «golly» in the school dictionary: an exclamation of surprise, delight or shock, used instead of swearing or saying God. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# golly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, I, you, Good golly, children, Golly · **What happens:** use, swear, say, exclaim, sound, be · **To what, where:** God, surprise, big cake, old professor, golly · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«golly» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [golly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/golly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: mild, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
an exclamation of surprise, delight or shock, used instead of swearing or saying God.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:m1:1
# text = an exclamation of surprise, delight or shock, used instead of swearing or saying God.
1	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	exclamation	exclamation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	delight	delight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	shock	shock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
11	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	13	mark	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	swearing	swear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	advcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	conj	_	_
16	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **swear** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | God |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent god=Topic |
| 4 | **exclaim** |  |  | surprise |  |  |  |  | nom exclamation «communication transitive»: of=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
used for fun to sound innocent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:m2:1
# text = used for fun to sound innocent.
1	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sound	sound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for fun | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sound** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | innocent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Golly, that's a big cake!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x1:1
# text = Golly, that's a big cake!
1	Golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that | a big cake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Golly, I didn't know you could juggle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x2:1
# text = Golly, I didn't know you could juggle.
1	Golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	juggle	juggle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **know** | past · do-support | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **juggle** | could | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Good golly!" said the old professor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x3:1
# text = "Good golly!" said the old professor.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	professor	professor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Good golly | the old professor |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent professor=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Golly gosh, look at the time!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x4:1
# text = Golly gosh, look at the time!
1	Golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gosh	gosh	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	time	time	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 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children in the old adventure book keep saying "golly".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x5:1
# text = The children in the old adventure book keep saying "golly".
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	adventure	adventure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the children in the old adventure book |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the children in the old adventure book *not said here* | golly |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent golly=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Golly, it's cold this morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x6:1
# text = Golly, it's cold this morning.
1	Golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Golly |  |  |  | morning | cold *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Golly, thanks!" said the little boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x7:1
# text = "Golly, thanks!" said the little boy.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Golly |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People say "golly" when they're surprised but don't want to swear.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:golly:x8:1
# text = People say "golly" when they're surprised but don't want to swear.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	golly	golly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	surprised	surprised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	swear	swear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | People | golly |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent golly=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | People |  |  |  |  | surprised *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **want** | present · do-support | People *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **swear** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | People *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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