---
title: skittle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skittle» in the school dictionary: A wooden or plastic bottle-shaped piece that players try to knock down with a ball. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skittle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wooden shaped piece, Skittles, Bowl, many things, We, Sam · **What happens:** shape, try, knock down, be, play, mean · **To what, where:** game, older cousin, skittles, many things, nine skittles, end · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wooden or plastic bottle-shaped piece that players try to knock down with a ball.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:m1:1
# text = A wooden or plastic bottle-shaped piece that players try to knock down with a ball.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
2	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	knock	knock	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	down	down	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **try** | present | a wooden shaped piece |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **knock down** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a wooden shaped piece *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a ball | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with ball=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 -->
Skittles is the game played with them, an older cousin of ten-pin bowling.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:m2:1
# text = Skittles is the game played with them, an older cousin of ten-pin bowling.
1	Skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	pin	pin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	bowling	bowling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the game |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | past | Skittles | a older cousin of pin bowling |  |  |  | with them *= they* | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with they=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Bowl over like skittles» or «knocked down like skittles» means many things falling quickly.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:m3:1
# text = «Bowl over like skittles» or «knocked down like skittles» means many things falling quickly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Bowl	Bowl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
3	over	over	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	knocked	knock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
14	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
17	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	acl	_	_
18	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock down** *in a quote* | participle |  | skittles *not said here* |  |  |  | like skittles | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Bowl like skittles | many things |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 3 | **fall** | gerund | many things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We set up nine skittles at the end of the hall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x1:1
# text = We set up nine skittles at the end of the hall.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	set	set	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set up** | present | We | nine skittles |  |  | at the end of the hall |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent skittle=Theme at end=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam knocked down six skittles with one ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x2:1
# text = Sam knocked down six skittles with one ball.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock down** | past | Sam | six skittles |  |  |  | with one ball | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent skittle=Patient with ball=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's play skittles in the garden!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x3:1
# text = Let's play skittles in the garden!
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | skittles |  | the garden |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skittle=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bowling ball scattered the skittles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x4:1
# text = The bowling ball scattered the skittles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bowling	bowling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	scattered	scatter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scatter** | past | the bowling ball | the skittles |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent skittle=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind knocked the bins over like skittles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x5:1
# text = The wind knocked the bins over like skittles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bins	bin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock over** | past | the wind | the bins |  |  |  | like skittles; over *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent bin=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Life isn't all beer and skittles, said Grandad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skittle:x6:1
# text = Life isn't all beer and skittles, said Grandad.
1	Life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	beer	beer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	skittles	skittle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Life | all beer and skittles |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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