---
title: splutter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «splutter» in the school dictionary: To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting sounds, because you are angry, shocked or embarrassed. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# splutter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, that, he, She, water, old car · **What happens:** speak, make, be, cough, spit, choke · **To what, where:** spitting sounds, food, series, nose, candle, wind · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«splutter» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [splutter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/splutter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting sounds, because you are angry, shocked or embarrassed.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:m1:1
# text = To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting sounds, because you are angry, shocked or embarrassed.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	spitting	spitting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	shocked	shocked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	embarrassed	embarrassed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | spitting sounds |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 cough or spit noisily, as when choking on food or water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:m2:1
# text = To cough or spit noisily, as when choking on food or water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cough	cough	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	spit	spit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	noisily	noisily	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	choking	choke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spit** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | noisily *property* | vn breathe-40.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **choke** | gerund |  |  |  | food or water |  |  | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of an engine or fire — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a series of short, uneven popping noises.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:m3:1
# text = To make a series of short, uneven popping noises.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	uneven	uneven	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	popping	pop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	noises	noise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a series of short uneven popping noises |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset series=Product |
| 2 | **pop** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"But — but — that's not fair!" he spluttered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x1:1
# text = "But — but — that's not fair!" he spluttered.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | that |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **splutter** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She spluttered when the water went up her nose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x2:1
# text = She spluttered when the water went up her nose.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **splutter** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **go up** | past | the water | water's nose |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old car spluttered and stopped.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x3:1
# text = The old car spluttered and stopped.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **splutter** | past | the old car |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stop** | past | the old car *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The candle spluttered in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x4:1
# text = The candle spluttered in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	candle	candle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **splutter** | participle |  | the candle *not said here* |  | the wind |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wind=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I spluttered with laughter at the joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x5:1
# text = I spluttered with laughter at the joke.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **splutter** | past | I |  |  | the joke |  | with laughter | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with laughter=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The engine spluttered into life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x6:1
# text = The engine spluttered into life.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **splutter** | participle |  | the engine *not said here* |  | life |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent into life=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What do you mean?" spluttered the Prince.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:splutter:x7:1
# text = "What do you mean?" spluttered the Prince.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	spluttered	splutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** *in a quote* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 2 | **splutter** | past |  | the Prince |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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