---
title: signalling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «signalling» in the school dictionary: Present participle of «signal»: giving a sign, sound or light to send a message. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# signalling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Present participle, Dark clouds, something, cyclist, lifeguard, us · **What happens:** give, send, show, happen, signall, leave · **To what, where:** sign, message, rain, storm, trains, flags · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«signalling» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [signalling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/signalling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Present participle of «signal»: giving a sign, sound or light to send a message.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:m1:1
# text = Present participle of «signal»: giving a sign, sound or light to send a message.
1	Present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	participle	participle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund | Present participle of signal *not said here* | a sign and sound or light |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Theme |
| 2 | **send** | to-infinitive | Present participle of signal *not said here* | a message |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=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 -->
Showing that something is happening: «Dark clouds are signalling rain.».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:m2:1
# text = Showing that something is happening: «Dark clouds are signalling rain.».
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	signalling	signall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
12	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund | Dark clouds *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | present · progressive | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **signall** *in a quote* | present · progressive | Dark clouds | rain |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
noun The system of signals on a railway or in the body: «railway signalling», «cell signalling».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:m3:1
# text = noun The system of signals on a railway or in the body: «railway signalling», «cell signalling».
1	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	signals	signal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	signalling	signalling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	signalling	signalling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cyclist was signalling left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x1:1
# text = The cyclist was signalling left.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cyclist	cyclist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	signalling	signall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **signall** | past · progressive | the cyclist |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | participle | the cyclist *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lifeguard is signalling for us to come in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x2:1
# text = The lifeguard is signalling for us to come in.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	signalling	signall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **signall** | present · progressive | the lifeguard |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come in** | to-infinitive | us |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dark clouds were signalling a storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x3:1
# text = Dark clouds were signalling a storm.
1	Dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	signalling	signall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **signall** | past · progressive | Dark clouds | a storm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Railway signalling stops trains from crashing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x4:1
# text = Railway signalling stops trains from crashing.
1	Railway	railway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	signalling	signalling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	crashing	crash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | Railway signalling | trains |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality train=Eventuality |
| 2 | **crash** | gerund | Railway signalling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors used flags for signalling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x5:1
# text = Sailors used flags for signalling.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flags	flag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	signalling	signalling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Sailors | flags |  |  |  | for signalling | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent flag=Theme for signalling=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always check the driver is signalling before you cross.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:signalling:x6:1
# text = Always check the driver is signalling before you cross.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	signalling	signall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	cross	cross	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **signall** | present · progressive | the driver |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cross** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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