---
title: malfunction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «malfunction» in the school dictionary: A failure of a machine or system to work properly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# malfunction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** machine, fault, lift, printer, computer malfunction, alarm malfunctions · **What happens:** work, fail, stop, malfunction, have, keep · **To what, where:** traffic lights, malfunction, flights, adult, robot, circles · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A failure of a machine or system to work properly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:m1:1
# text = A failure of a machine or system to work properly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	failure	failure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	properly	properly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | properly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fail** |  | a machine or system |  |  |  |  |  | nom failure «act intransitive»: of=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop working correctly: the traffic lights malfunctioned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:m2:1
# text = To stop working correctly: the traffic lights malfunctioned.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	correctly	correctly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	malfunctioned	malfunction	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **work** | gerund |  | the traffic lights |  |  |  | correctly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **malfunction** | participle |  | the traffic lights *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fault in how part of the body works.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:m3:1
# text = A fault in how part of the body works.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | a fault in part of the body |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lift had a malfunction and stopped between floors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x1:1
# text = The lift had a malfunction and stopped between floors.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	malfunction	malfunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	floors	floor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the lift | a malfunction |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent malfunction=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | past | the lift *not said here* |  |  |  |  | between floors | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our printer keeps malfunctioning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x2:1
# text = Our printer keeps malfunctioning.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	printer	printer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	malfunctioning	malfunction	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Our printer |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **malfunction** | gerund | Our printer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A computer malfunction delayed the flights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x3:1
# text = A computer malfunction delayed the flights.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	malfunction	malfunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	delayed	delay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flights	flight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | past | a computer malfunction | the flights |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent flight=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If the smoke alarm malfunctions, tell an adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x4:1
# text = If the smoke alarm malfunctions, tell an adult.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	malfunctions	malfunction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | alarm malfunctions |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robot malfunctioned and spun in circles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x5:1
# text = The robot malfunctioned and spun in circles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	malfunctioned	malfunction	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	spun	spin	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	circles	circle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **malfunction** | participle |  | the robot *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spin** | participle |  |  |  | circles |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in circle=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rocket launch was stopped because of a malfunction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x6:1
# text = The rocket launch was stopped because of a malfunction.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	launch	launch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	stopped	stop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	malfunction	malfunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past · passive |  | the rocket launch |  |  |  | because a malfunction | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The traffic lights malfunctioned during the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x7:1
# text = The traffic lights malfunctioned during the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	malfunctioned	malfunction	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **malfunction** | participle |  | the traffic lights *not said here* |  |  | during the storm |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Engineers found the cause of the malfunction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:malfunction:x8:1
# text = Engineers found the cause of the malfunction.
1	Engineers	engineer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	malfunction	malfunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | Engineers | the cause of the malfunction |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** |  |  | the malfunction |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=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.

<!-- /div -->

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