---
title: puzzler — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «puzzler» in the school dictionary: A question, problem or mystery that is hard to understand or solve: «That riddle is a real puzzler.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# puzzler

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** mystery, riddle, person, puzzler, Question, cat · **What happens:** be, understand, solve, enjoy, do, figure out · **To what, where:** real puzzler, puzzles, person, keys, locks, socks

<!-- .vabout -->
«puzzler» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [puzzler in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/puzzler.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A question, problem or mystery that is hard to understand or solve: «That riddle is a real puzzler.».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:m1:1
# text = A question, problem or mystery that is hard to understand or solve: «That riddle is a real puzzler.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	mystery	mystery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	det	_	_
17	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | mystery |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive | mystery *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **solve** | infinitive | mystery *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | that riddle | a real puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 who enjoys doing puzzles, like crosswords or sudoku.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:m2:1
# text = A person who enjoys doing puzzles, like crosswords or sudoku.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	enjoys	enjoy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	puzzles	puzzle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	crosswords	crossword	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	sudoku	sudoku	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enjoy** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | a person *not said here* | puzzles |  |  |  | like crosswords | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A puzzler can also be a person who is hard to understand or figure out.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:m3:1
# text = A puzzler can also be a person who is hard to understand or figure out.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	figure	figure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
15	out	out	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a puzzler | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **figure out** | infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V PP.topic S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Here's a puzzler: what has keys but can't open locks?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x1:1
# text = Here's a puzzler: what has keys but can't open locks?
1	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	locks	lock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a puzzler |  |  |  |  | here *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a puzzler | keys |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **open** | can | a puzzler *not said here* | locks |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location lock=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Question 10 on the maths test was a real puzzler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x2:1
# text = Question 10 on the maths test was a real puzzler.
1	Question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	flat	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	maths	maths	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Question on the maths test | a real puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why the cat kept hiding the socks was a puzzler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x3:1
# text = Why the cat kept hiding the socks was a puzzler.
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hide** | gerund |  | the socks |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sock=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | past | hiding | a puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is a keen puzzler who does the crossword every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x4:1
# text = Grandma is a keen puzzler who does the crossword every day.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crossword	crossword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Grandma | a keen puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | a keen puzzler | the crossword |  |  | day |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crossword=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The missing biscuits were a puzzler until we found crumbs on the dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x5:1
# text = The missing biscuits were a puzzler until we found crumbs on the dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	biscuits	biscuit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl	_	_
10	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the missing biscuits | a puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | past | we | crumbs |  |  |  | on the dog | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crumb=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gives us a Friday puzzler to solve in pairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x6:1
# text = The teacher gives us a Friday puzzler to solve in pairs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | the teacher | a Friday puzzler | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient puzzler=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* | a Friday puzzler *not said here* |  | pairs |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a puzzler, take him how you will."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:puzzler:x7:1
# text = He is a puzzler, take him how you will."
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puzzler	puzzler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a puzzler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive |  |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument he=Destination |

<!-- 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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