---
title: riddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «riddle» in the school dictionary: A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# riddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** riddle, puzzle question, you, I, She, troll · **What happens:** be, need, think, answer, understand, riddle · **To what, where:** puzzle question, something, wall, riddle, number, 12 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«riddle» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [riddle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/riddle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:m1:1
# text = A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	riddle	riddle	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	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a riddle | a puzzle question and a play on words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | a puzzle question and a play on words |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | gerund | a puzzle question and a play on words *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | a puzzle question and a play on words *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:m2:1
# text = A riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mystery	mystery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a riddle | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive | a riddle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:m3:1
# text = Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes».
1	Riddled	riddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	1	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
10	riddled	riddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **riddle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | full *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **riddle** *in a quote* | participle |  | a wall *not said here* |  |  |  | with holes | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with hole=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Solve the riddle: I am a number, and 5 more than me is 12.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x1:1
# text = Solve the riddle: I am a number, and 5 more than me is 12.
1	Solve	solve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | imperative | you *not said here* | the riddle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent riddle=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | I | a number |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x2:1
# text = Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | each riddle in the book | 3 clues |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x3:1
# text = She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	riddles	riddle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | past | She | 7 riddles |  |  | minute |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent riddle=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x4:1
# text = Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6.
1	Number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	appos	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	_
14	×	×	SYM	SYM	_	15	case	_	_
15	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | between 20; × 6 | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | I | 4 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap? A clock!

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x5:1
# text = Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap?
1	Riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	clap	clap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  | hands |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **clap** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* A clock!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x5:2
# text = A clock!
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x6:1
# text = The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	cross	cross	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the troll | a riddle |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent riddle=Recipient |
| 2 | **let** | past | troll | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cross** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x7:1
# text = Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me.
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | the old car |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the old car | a riddle | me |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old tree was riddled with holes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x8:1
# text = The old tree was riddled with holes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	riddled	riddled	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old tree |  |  |  |  | with holes; riddled *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:riddle:x9:1
# text = "Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | a riddle for you |  |  |  |  | Prince Ivan *vocative*; here *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 -->
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