---
title: squabble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «squabble» in the school dictionary: To squabble is to argue noisily about something small and unimportant. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# squabble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** squabble, brother, you, twins, Seagulls, kids · **What happens:** squabble, be, slice, stop, take, have · **To what, where:** small silly argument, pizza, turns, squabble, way, little squabble · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«squabble» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [squabble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/squabble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To squabble is to argue noisily about something small and unimportant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:m1:1
# text = To squabble is to argue noisily about something small and unimportant.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	squabble	squabble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	argue	argue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	noisily	noisily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squabble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: disagree* | present |  |  |  |  |  | about something; argue, noisily *property* | 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 -->
A squabble is a small, silly argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:m2:1
# text = A squabble is a small, silly argument.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	squabble	squabble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a squabble | a small silly argument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother and I squabbled over the last slice of pizza.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x1:1
# text = My brother and I squabbled over the last slice of pizza.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	conj	_	_
5	squabbled	squabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	slice	slice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	pizza	pizza	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squabble** | past | My brother |  |  |  |  | over the last slice of pizza | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent over slice=Theme |
| 2 | **slice** |  |  | pizza |  |  |  |  | nom slice «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop squabbling and take turns!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x2:1
# text = Stop squabbling and take turns!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	squabbling	squabble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	turns	turn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **squabble** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **take** | present | you *not said here* | turns |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent turn=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The twins had a squabble about whose turn it was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x3:1
# text = The twins had a squabble about whose turn it was.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	squabble	squabble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the twins | a squabble |  |  |  | about a squabble's turn | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent squabble=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seagulls squabbled over a chip on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x4:1
# text = Seagulls squabbled over a chip on the beach.
1	Seagulls	seagull	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	squabbled	squabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chip	chip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	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 | **squabble** | past | Seagulls |  |  |  |  | on the beach; over a chip | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent over chip=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kids squabbled all the way to the seaside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x5:1
# text = The kids squabbled all the way to the seaside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	squabbled	squabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	seaside	seaside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squabble** | past | the kids | all way |  |  |  | to the seaside | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was just a little squabble; they were friends again by lunchtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x6:1
# text = It was just a little squabble; they were friends again by lunchtime.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	squabble	squabble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	lunchtime	lunchtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a little squabble and friends |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | squabble | friends |  |  | again | by lunchtime | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The politicians squabbled about the new road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x7:1
# text = The politicians squabbled about the new road.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	politicians	politician	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	squabbled	squabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squabble** | past | the politicians |  |  |  |  | about the new road | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent about road=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without me they'll be orphans left, and from door to door have to beg their bread and squabble with dogs."

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:squabble:x8:1
# text = Without me they'll be orphans left, and from door to door have to beg their bread and squabble with dogs."
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	orphans	orphan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
14	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	beg	beg	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	squabble	squabble	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
21	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | future | they | orphans |  |  |  | without me | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | orphans *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present |  |  |  | door to door |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **beg** *speech: request* | to-infinitive |  | orphans's bread |  |  |  |  | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.Topic»: agent=Agent bread=Recipient |
| 5 | **squabble** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with dogs | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with dog=Co-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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