---
title: railing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «railing» in the school dictionary: A fence or barrier made of metal or wooden bars, often along stairs, a bridge or a balcony, to stop people falling. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# railing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, park, We, bridge railing, people, He · **What happens:** make, stop, fall, hold on, hold, go down · **To what, where:** barrier, people, single bar, railing, stairs, balcony railing

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fence or barrier made of metal or wooden bars, often along stairs, a bridge or a balcony, to stop people falling.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:m1:1
# text = A fence or barrier made of metal or wooden bars, often along stairs, a bridge or a balcony, to stop people falling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	along	along	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	balcony	balcony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
24	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obj	_	_
25	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | barrier *not said here* |  |  |  | of metal or wooden bars | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 single bar that you can hold on to, like a handrail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:m2:1
# text = A single bar that you can hold on to, like a handrail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	handrail	handrail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold on** | can | you | a single bar |  |  |  | like a handrail | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the railing when you go down the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x1:1
# text = Hold the railing when you go down the stairs.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	railing	railing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the railing |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent railing=Theme |
| 2 | **go down** | present | you | the stairs |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient stair=Extent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not climb on the balcony railing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x2:1
# text = Do not climb on the balcony railing.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	climb	climb	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	balcony	balcony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	railing	railing	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 | **not** **climb** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | the balcony railing |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on railing=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The park has black iron railings around it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x3:1
# text = The park has black iron railings around it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	railings	railing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the park | black iron railings |  | it |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent railing=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We leaned on the railing to watch the boats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x4:1
# text = We leaned on the railing to watch the boats.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	leaned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	railing	railing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  | the railing |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **watch** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the boats |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge railing stops people falling into the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x5:1
# text = The bridge railing stops people falling into the river.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	railing	railing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | the bridge railing | people |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality people=Eventuality |
| 2 | **fall** | gerund | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the river *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into river=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tied his bike to the railings outside the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x6:1
# text = He tied his bike to the railings outside the shop.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tied	tie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	railings	railing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tie** | past | He | his bike |  |  |  | to the railings outside the shop | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent bike=Patient to railing=Co-Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Paint the railings before the winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x7:1
# text = Paint the railings before the winter.
1	Paint	paint	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	railings	railing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | imperative | you *not said here* | the railings |  |  | winter |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent railing=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People used to stop and peep through the railings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:railing:x8:1
# text = People used to stop and peep through the railings.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	peep	peep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	railings	railing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | People |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | People *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **peep** | infinitive | People *not said here* |  |  |  |  | through the railings | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through railing=Theme |

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