---
title: impulse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impulse» in the school dictionary: A sudden wish to do something without thinking about it first. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impulse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** signal, reason, something, she, He, Sweets · **What happens:** do, think, travel, burst, make, happen · **To what, where:** something, nerve, force, impulse, sudden impulse, fingers

<!-- .vabout -->
«impulse» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [impulse in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/impulse.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden wish to do something without thinking about it first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:m1:1
# text = A sudden wish to do something without thinking about it first.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
11	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about wish; first *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

<!-- .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: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A signal that travels along a nerve, or a short push or burst of force.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:m2:1
# text = A signal that travels along a nerve, or a short push or burst of force.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nerve	nerve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	push	push	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	burst	burst	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | present | a signal |  |  | a nerve |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along nerve=Trajectory |
| 2 | **burst** |  |  | force |  |  |  |  | nom burst «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reason or force that makes something happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:m3:1
# text = A reason or force that makes something happen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a reason or force | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On impulse, she jumped into the pool with her clothes on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x1:1
# text = On impulse, she jumped into the pool with her clothes on.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	jumped	jump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	5	obl	_	_
12	on	on	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | past | she |  |  | impulse |  | into the pool *result*; with her clothes | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into pool=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt a sudden impulse to laugh during assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x2:1
# text = He felt a sudden impulse to laugh during assembly.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	during	during	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He | a sudden impulse |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impulse=Theme |
| 2 | **laugh** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  | during assembly |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sweets near the till are for impulse buying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x3:1
# text = Sweets near the till are for impulse buying.
1	Sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	near	near	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	till	till	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	buying	buying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Sweets near the till |  |  |  |  | for impulse buying | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nerve impulses travel from your fingers to your brain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x4:1
# text = Nerve impulses travel from your fingers to your brain.
1	Nerve	nerve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	impulses	impulse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	travel	travel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	brain	brain	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 | **travel** | present | Nerve impulses |  |  | your fingers |  | to your brain | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to brain=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to resist the impulse to shout out the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x5:1
# text = Try to resist the impulse to shout out the answer.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	resist	resist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	shout	shout	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **resist** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the impulse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **shout out** *speech: express* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Acting on impulse can sometimes get you into trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x6:1
# text = Acting on impulse can sometimes get you into trouble.
1	Acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	advmod	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  | impulse |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on impulse=Eventuality |
| 2 | **get** | can | Acting | you |  | trouble |  | sometimes *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No sooner was this done than, obeying an irresistible impulse, he precipitated himself into the deep, and became a sea-god.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impulse:x7:1
# text = No sooner was this done than, obeying an irresistible impulse, he precipitated himself into the deep, and became a sea-god.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	sooner	soon	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	obeying	obey	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	irresistible	irresistible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	impulse	impulse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	precipitated	precipitate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	14	obj	_	_
16	into	into	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
23	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past · passive |  | this |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **obey** | gerund |  | a irresistible impulse |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impulse=Theme |
| 3 | **precipitate** | past | he | himself *= he* |  | the deep |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **become** | past | he *not said here* | a sea god |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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