---
title: gremlin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gremlin» in the school dictionary: An imaginary, mischievous little creature blamed for things going wrong with machines. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gremlin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** things, unknown small fault, gremlin, Dad, computer, green gremlin · **What happens:** blame, go, make, break down, be, crash · **To what, where:** imaginary mischievous little creature, machine, system, gremlins, printer, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An imaginary, mischievous little creature blamed for things going wrong with machines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:m1:1
# text = An imaginary, mischievous little creature blamed for things going wrong with machines.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	imaginary	imaginary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	mischievous	mischievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	blamed	blame	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blame** | participle |  | a imaginary mischievous little creature *not said here* |  |  |  | for things | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent for thing=Attribute |
| 2 | **go** | gerund | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with machines; wrong *property* | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent with machine=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An unknown small fault that makes a machine or computer break down: there's a gremlin in the system.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:m2:1
# text = An unknown small fault that makes a machine or computer break down: there's a gremlin in the system.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	down	down	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	15	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	gremlin	gremlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a unknown small fault | a machine or computer |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset machine=Product |
| 2 | **break down** | present | a unknown small fault |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **be** | present | a gremlin |  |  | the system; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in system=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad blamed the gremlins when the computer crashed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x1:1
# text = Dad blamed the gremlins when the computer crashed.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	blamed	blame	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gremlins	gremlin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	crashed	crash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blame** | past | Dad | the gremlins |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gremlin=Theme |
| 2 | **crash** | past | the computer |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a gremlin in the printer again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x2:1
# text = There's a gremlin in the printer again.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	gremlin	gremlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	printer	printer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a gremlin |  |  | the printer; there | again |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in printer=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, a green gremlin hid inside the plane.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x3:1
# text = In the story, a green gremlin hid inside the plane.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	gremlin	gremlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | a green gremlin |  |  | the story |  | inside the plane | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in story=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Technical gremlins delayed the school play's lights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x4:1
# text = Technical gremlins delayed the school play's lights.
1	Technical	technical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	gremlins	gremlin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	delayed	delay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | past | Technical gremlins | the school play's lights |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent light=Source |
| 2 | **light** |  | the school play |  |  |  |  |  | nom light «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pilots used to joke that gremlins chewed the wires.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x5:1
# text = Pilots used to joke that gremlins chewed the wires.
1	Pilots	pilot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	joke	joke	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	gremlins	gremlin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	chewed	chew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Pilots |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | Pilots *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **chew** | past | gremlins | the wires |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wire=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The engineers hunted the gremlin for hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gremlin:x6:1
# text = The engineers hunted the gremlin for hours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	engineers	engineer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hunted	hunt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gremlin	gremlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | past | the engineers | the gremlin |  |  | hour |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gremlin=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.

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