---
title: letting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «letting» in the school dictionary: Letting means allowing someone to do something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# letting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, something, Letting, Mum, me, Thanks · **What happens:** let, mean, allow, do, happen, not stop · **To what, where:** someone, something, it, water run, house, British English · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«letting» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [letting in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/letting.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letting means allowing someone to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:m1:1
# text = Letting means allowing someone to do something.
1	Letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	allowing	allow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **allow** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Causer someone=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is letting me stay up late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:m1e:1
# text = Mum is letting me stay up late.
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	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present · progressive | Mum | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay up** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letting something happen means not stopping it: letting the water run.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:m2:1
# text = Letting something happen means not stopping it: letting the water run.
1	Letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	stopping	stop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	ccomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	run	run	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | infinitive | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **mean** | present | Letting |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **stop** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality it=Eventuality |
| 5 | **let** | gerund |  | the water run |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent run=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In British English, letting a house or flat means renting it out to someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:m3:1
# text = In British English, letting a house or flat means renting it out to someone.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	renting	rent	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | gerund |  | a house |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent house=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | letting |  |  | British English |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **rent out** *not said to happen* | gerund | letting *not said here* | house | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Theme to someone=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thanks for letting me borrow your pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x1:1
# text = Thanks for letting me borrow your pen.
1	Thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	borrow	borrow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | gerund | Thanks *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **borrow** | infinitive | me *not said here* | your pen |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is letting us camp in the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x2:1
# text = Dad is letting us camp in the garden.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	camp	camp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present · progressive | Dad | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **camp** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  | the garden |  |  | vn odge-46-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in garden=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop letting the door slam!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x3:1
# text = Stop letting the door slam!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	slam	slam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	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 V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **let** | gerund | you *not said here* | the door slam |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slam=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is letting go of the rope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x4:1
# text = She is letting go of the rope.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	go	go	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present · progressive | She | go of the rope |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent go=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You are letting the cold air in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x5:1
# text = You are letting the cold air in.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let in** | present · progressive | You | the cold air |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt bad about letting my team down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x6:1
# text = I felt bad about letting my team down.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **let down** | gerund | I *not said here* | my team |  |  |  | down *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent team=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They are letting the dog off the lead in the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x7:1
# text = They are letting the dog off the lead in the park.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present · progressive | They | the dog |  |  |  | off the lead in the park | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Letting the tap run wastes water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x8:1
# text = Letting the tap run wastes water.
1	Letting	let	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	run	run	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	wastes	waste	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | gerund |  | the tap run |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent run=Theme |
| 2 | **waste** | present | Letting | water |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Straight on he strode, letting neither hill nor river hinder him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:letting:x9:1
# text = Straight on he strode, letting neither hill nor river hinder him.
1	Straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	strode	stride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	neither	neither	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	nor	nor	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	10	cc	_	_
10	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	hinder	hinder	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	xcomp	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stride** | past | he |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | gerund | he *not said here* | neither hill nor river |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **hinder** | present | neither hill nor river *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer he=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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