---
title: rumour — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «rumour» in the school dictionary: A rumour is a story or piece of news that people pass from one to another, which may not be true and has not been checked. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# rumour

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rumour, people, nobody, school, we, you · **What happens:** be, pass, not be, not check, rumour, mean · **To what, where:** story, news, it, new teacher, rumours, rumour · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rumour is a story or piece of news that people pass from one to another, which may not be true and has not been checked.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:m1:1
# text = A rumour is a story or piece of news that people pass from one to another, which may not be true and has not been checked.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	pass	pass	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
18	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
19	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	cop	_	_
22	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	parataxis	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
24	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
25	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	27	advmod	_	_
26	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	27	aux:pass	_	_
27	checked	check	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a rumour | a story or piece |  |  |  | of news | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** | present | people | news |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent that=Recipient one=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **is** | may |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **check** | present · perfect · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP» |

<!-- .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 -->
To be rumoured means people say it but nobody is sure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:m2:1
# text = To be rumoured means people say it but nobody is sure.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	rumoured	rumour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rumour** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | people | it |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **is** | present | nobody |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is rumoured that school will close.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:m2e:1
# text = It is rumoured that school will close.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	rumoured	rumour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	close	close	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rumour** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **close** | future | school |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a rumour that we have a new teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x1:1
# text = There is a rumour that we have a new teacher.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a rumour |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | we | a new teacher |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not spread rumours about other people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x2:1
# text = Do not spread rumours about other people.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **spread** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | rumours |  |  |  | about other people | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent rumour=Theme about people=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was only a rumour, it was not true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x3:1
# text = It was only a rumour, it was not true.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a rumour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | rumour |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who started that rumour?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x4:1
# text = Who started that rumour?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rumour spread around the playground by lunchtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x5:1
# text = The rumour spread around the playground by lunchtime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lunchtime	lunchtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | the rumour |  |  | the playground |  | by lunchtime | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around playground=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rumours can be very hurtful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x6:1
# text = Rumours can be very hurtful.
1	Rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hurtful	hurtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Rumours |  |  |  |  | hurtful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is rumoured that the old house is haunted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x7:1
# text = It is rumoured that the old house is haunted.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	rumoured	rumour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	haunted	haunt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rumour** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **haunt** | present · passive |  | the old house |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check the facts before you believe a rumour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x8:1
# text = Check the facts before you believe a rumour.
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | the facts |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Theme |
| 2 | **believe** | present | you | a rumour |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rumour=Stimulus |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then, one day, a rumour reached the king that a large army was marching against him.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rumour:x9:1
# text = Then, one day, a rumour reached the king that a large army was marching against him.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	obj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	marching	march	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	against	against	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | past | a rumour | the king |  |  | then; day |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent king=Theme |
| 2 | **march** | past · progressive | a large army | the king |  |  |  | against rumour | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent that=Theme against he=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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