---
title: lightbulb — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lightbulb» in the school dictionary: A lightbulb is a glass or plastic bulb that gives out light when electricity goes through it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lightbulb

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lightbulb, glass bulb, electricity, lightbulb moment, you, lightbulbs · **What happens:** be, give out, go, understand, have, lead · **To what, where:** glass bulb, light, lightbulb, sudden moment, something, great idea

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lightbulb is a glass or plastic bulb that gives out light when electricity goes through it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:m1:1
# text = A lightbulb is a glass or plastic bulb that gives out light when electricity goes through it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	bulb	bulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	15	mark	_	_
14	electricity	electricity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
16	through	through	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lightbulb | a glass bulb |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give out** | present | a glass bulb | light |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent light=Theme |
| 3 | **go** | present | electricity |  |  | lightbulb |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through it=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .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 -->
A «lightbulb moment» is a sudden moment when you understand something or have a great idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:m2:1
# text = A «lightbulb moment» is a sudden moment when you understand something or have a great idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	understand	understand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lightbulb moment | a sudden moment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | present | you | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 3 | **have** | infinitive | you *not said here* | a great idea |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lightbulb in my bedroom has gone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x1:1
# text = The lightbulb in my bedroom has gone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · perfect | the lightbulb in my bedroom |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
LED lightbulbs save energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x2:1
# text = LED lightbulbs save energy.
1	LED	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	lightbulbs	lightbulb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	save	save	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
4	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Result |
| 2 | **save** | present | lightbulbs | energy |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent energy=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Switch off before you change a lightbulb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x3:1
# text = Switch off before you change a lightbulb.
1	Switch	switch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	off	off	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	change	change	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lightbulb	lightbulb	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 | **switch off** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **change** | present | you | a lightbulb |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lightbulb=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Edison and Swan both worked on the lightbulb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x4:1
# text = Edison and Swan both worked on the lightbulb.
1	Edison	Edison	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Swan	Swan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	both	both	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Edison and Swan |  |  |  |  | on the lightbulb; both *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on lightbulb=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a lightbulb moment and solved the puzzle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x5:1
# text = I had a lightbulb moment and solved the puzzle.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I |  |  |  | moment |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **solve** | past | I *not said here* | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the circuit, the lightbulb lit up when we closed the switch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightbulb:x6:1
# text = In the circuit, the lightbulb lit up when we closed the switch.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	circuit	circuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lightbulb	lightbulb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lit	lit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	closed	close	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	switch	switch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lit up** | participle | the lightbulb |  |  | the circuit |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **close** | past | we | the switch |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent switch=Patient |

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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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