---
title: propelling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «propelling» in the school dictionary: Pushing or driving something forward. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/propelling/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / propelling

# propelling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** propelling pencil, someone, Fear, oars, squid, burning fuel · **What happens:** push, drive, propel, be, push out, twist · **To what, where:** something, mechanical pencil, lead, someone, him, boat

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pushing or driving something forward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:m1:1
# text = Pushing or driving something forward.
1	Pushing	push	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	driving	drive	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **drive** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme something=Trajectory |

<!-- .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: adjective, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A «propelling pencil» is a mechanical pencil in which the lead is pushed out by twisting or clicking.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:m2:1
# text = A «propelling pencil» is a mechanical pencil in which the lead is pushed out by twisting or clicking.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	pencil	pencil	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	mechanical	mechanical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	obl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	pushed	push	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl:relcl	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	_
17	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	twisting	twist	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	clicking	click	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a propelling pencil | a mechanical pencil |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **push out** | present · passive |  | the lead |  | a mechanical pencil |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: subject=Theme in which=Trajectory |
| 4 | **twist** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **click** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making someone do something or go somewhere: «Fear was propelling him on.».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:m3:1
# text = Making someone do something or go somewhere: «Fear was propelling him on.».
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
7	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **propel on** *in a quote* | past · progressive | Fear | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The oars were propelling the boat across the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x1:1
# text = The oars were propelling the boat across the river.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	oars	oar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	across	across	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | past · progressive | the oars | the boat |  | the river |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A squid moves by propelling water out of its body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x2:1
# text = A squid moves by propelling water out of its body.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	squid	squid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | a squid |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **propel** | gerund | a squid *not said here* | water |  | squid's body |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rocket is propelled by burning fuel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x3:1
# text = The rocket is propelled by burning fuel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	propelled	propel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	fuel	fuel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | present · passive | burning fuel | the rocket |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **burn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I borrow your propelling pencil?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x4:1
# text = Can I borrow your propelling pencil?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	borrow	borrow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	propelling	propelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **borrow** | can | I | your propelling pencil |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was propelling us towards the gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x5:1
# text = The crowd was propelling us towards the gate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | past · progressive | the crowd | us |  |  |  | towards the gate | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A propeller turns, propelling the ship forward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propelling:x6:1
# text = A propeller turns, propelling the ship forward.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	propeller	propeller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	propelling	propel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	obl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | a propeller |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **propel** | gerund |  | the ship |  |  |  | forward *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [propeller](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/propeller/)
- next →: [propensity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/propensity/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)