---
title: punchline — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «punchline» in the school dictionary: The last line or words of a joke, which make it funny: «Wait for the punchline!». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# punchline

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** last line, He, nobody, punchline, you, She · **What happens:** make, wait, word, end, forget, laugh · **To what, where:** joke, story, punchline, Lettuce, dog · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The last line or words of a joke, which make it funny: «Wait for the punchline!».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:m1:1
# text = The last line or words of a joke, which make it funny: «Wait for the punchline!».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the last line or words of a joke | joke |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wait** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for the punchline | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **word** |  |  | a joke |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surprising or important ending of a story, speech or advert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:m2:1
# text = The surprising or important ending of a story, speech or advert.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** |  |  | a story |  |  |  |  | nom ending «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He forgot the punchline, so nobody laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x1:1
# text = He forgot the punchline, so nobody laughed.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	_
8	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | past | He | the punchline |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The punchline of the joke is «Lettuce in, it's cold out here!»

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x2:1
# text = The punchline of the joke is «Lettuce in, it's cold out here!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Lettuce	lettuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	cold	col	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the punchline of the joke | Lettuce |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **col out** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | punchline |  | here |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait for it, the punchline is coming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x3:1
# text = Wait for it, the punchline is coming.
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for it | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | present · progressive | the punchline |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She delivered the punchline perfectly and the whole class laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x4:1
# text = She delivered the punchline perfectly and the whole class laughed.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	delivered	deliver	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	perfectly	perfectly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | past | She | the punchline |  |  |  | perfectly *property* | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent punchline=Patient |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | the whole class |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I didn't get the punchline until my sister explained it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x5:1
# text = I didn't get the punchline until my sister explained it.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **get** | past · do-support | I | the punchline |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer punchline=Stimulus |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | my sister | punchline |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story's punchline was that the ghost was the dog all along.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punchline:x6:1
# text = The story's punchline was that the ghost was the dog all along.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	punchline	punchline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	all	all	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	along	along	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the story's punchline | the dog |  |  |  | along *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 -->

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