---
title: puppet — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «puppet» in the school dictionary: A puppet is a toy figure of a person or animal that you move with your hand, strings or sticks to act out a show. 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/puppet/)

<!-- 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/) / puppet

# puppet

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** puppet, that, We, puppet show, Pinocchio, She · **What happens:** be, move, act out, control, do, tell · **To what, where:** toy figure, show, person, sock puppets, art, wooden puppet · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«puppet» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [puppet in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/puppet.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A puppet is a toy figure of a person or animal that you move with your hand, strings or sticks to act out a show.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:m1:1
# text = A puppet is a toy figure of a person or animal that you move with your hand, strings or sticks to act out a show.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	figure	figure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	appos	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
24	out	out	ADP	RP	_	23	compound:prt	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a puppet | a toy figure |  |  |  | of a person or animal | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | present | that |  |  |  |  | with your hand | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **act out** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* | a show |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent show=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or group controlled by someone else, who does what they are told.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:m2:1
# text = A person or group controlled by someone else, who does what they are told.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	else	else	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	obj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | participle |  | a person or group *not said here* |  |  |  | by someone | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | person |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: subject=Recipient what=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made sock puppets in art.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x1:1
# text = We made sock puppets in art.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sock	sock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	puppets	puppet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | sock puppets |  | art |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppet=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppet show was very funny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x2:1
# text = The puppet show was very funny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	puppet	puppet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the puppet show |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pinocchio was a wooden puppet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x3:1
# text = Pinocchio was a wooden puppet.
1	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Pinocchio | a wooden puppet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She moved the puppet's mouth with her hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x4:1
# text = She moved the puppet's mouth with her hand.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	moved	move	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	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | She | the puppet's mouth |  |  |  | with her hand | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent mouth=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shadow puppets make shapes on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x5:1
# text = Shadow puppets make shapes on the wall.
1	Shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	puppets	puppet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	shapes	shape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Shadow puppets | shapes |  | the wall |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material shape=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The string puppet danced across the stage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x6:1
# text = The string puppet danced across the stage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	danced	dance	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stage	stage	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 | **dance** | participle |  | the string puppet *not said here* |  | the stage |  |  | vn waltz-51.5 «NP V PP.trajectory PP.goal»: agent=Theme across stage=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king was only a puppet of the rich lords.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x7:1
# text = The king was only a puppet of the rich lords.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the king | a puppet |  |  |  | of the rich lords | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppet which plays so important a part in this story is worthy of a special examination.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puppet:x8:1
# text = The puppet which plays so important a part in this story is worthy of a special examination.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppet	puppet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	worthy	worthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	examination	examination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | the puppet | a part |  | this story |  | important *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the puppet |  |  |  |  | of a special examination; worthy *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: [pupil](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pupil/)
- next →: [puppy](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/puppy/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)