---
title: stabiliser — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stabiliser» in the school dictionary: Stabilisers are the two small extra wheels on the back of a child's bicycle that stop it falling over while you learn to ride (US: training wheels). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stabiliser

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Stabilisers, two small extra wheels, you, stabiliser, part, chemicals · **What happens:** be, stop, fall over, learn, ride, keep · **To what, where:** two small extra wheels, back, bicycle, US, part, something · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stabilisers are the two small extra wheels on the back of a child's bicycle that stop it falling over while you learn to ride (US: training wheels).

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:m1:1
# text = Stabilisers are the two small extra wheels on the back of a child's bicycle that stop it falling over while you learn to ride (US: training wheels).
1	Stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	bicycle	bicycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
17	stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	xcomp	_	_
20	over	over	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
21	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
22	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	advcl	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	xcomp	_	_
26	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	30	punct	_	_
29	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	compound	_	_
30	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Stabilisers | the two small extra wheels |  | the back of a child's bicycle |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | present | the two small extra wheels | bicycle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall over** | gerund | the two small extra wheels *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **learn** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **ride** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | US and training wheels |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent us=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 -->
A stabiliser is any part or device that keeps something steady, such as the fins on a ship or the small horizontal wings at the back of an aeroplane.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:m2:1
# text = A stabiliser is any part or device that keeps something steady, such as the fins on a ship or the small horizontal wings at the back of an aeroplane.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stabiliser	stabiliser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	fins	fin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
22	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
23	horizontal	horizontal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	_
25	at	at	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	_
28	of	of	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	aeroplane	aeroplane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stabiliser | any part or device |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | any part or device | something |  |  |  | such the fins on a ship or the small horizontal wings at the back of a aeroplane | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: food, science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stabiliser is a substance added to food or chemicals to keep them mixed and stop them changing.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:m3:1
# text = A stabiliser is a substance added to food or chemicals to keep them mixed and stop them changing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stabiliser	stabiliser	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	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	added	add	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	xcomp	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stabiliser | a substance |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | participle |  | a substance *not said here* |  |  |  | to food or chemicals | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle PP»: agent=Patient to food=Co-Patient |
| 3 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | chemicals *= chemical* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **mix** | participle | chemicals *= chemical* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **stop** | infinitive |  | chemicals *= chemical* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I learned to ride without stabilisers when I was five.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x1:1
# text = I learned to ride without stabilisers when I was five.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **ride** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without stabilisers | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past | I | five |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad took the stabilisers off my bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x2:1
# text = Dad took the stabilisers off my bike.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bike	bike	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 | **take** | past | Dad | the stabilisers |  | my bike |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent stabiliser=Theme off bike=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In America they call stabilisers training wheels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x3:1
# text = In America they call stabilisers training wheels.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	training	train	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | they | stabilisers |  | America |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent stabiliser=Recipient |
| 2 | **train** | gerund | stabilisers *not said here* | wheels |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wheel=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Big ships have stabilisers to stop them rolling in waves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x4:1
# text = Big ships have stabilisers to stop them rolling in waves.
1	Big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	ships	ship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Big ships | stabilisers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | stabilisers *not said here* | stabilisers *= stabiliser* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **roll** | gerund | stabilisers *not said here* |  |  | waves |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wave=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ice cream has a stabiliser to keep it smooth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x5:1
# text = The ice cream has a stabiliser to keep it smooth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stabiliser	stabiliser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the ice cream | a stabiliser |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stabiliser=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | the ice cream *not said here* | stabiliser |  |  |  | smooth *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plane's stabiliser helps it fly straight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x6:1
# text = The plane's stabiliser helps it fly straight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stabiliser	stabiliser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the plane's stabiliser | plane |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **fly** | infinitive | plane *not said here* |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She still needs stabilisers on her bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stabiliser:x7:1
# text = She still needs stabilisers on her bike.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bike	bike	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 | **need** | present | She | stabilisers |  | her bike | still |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot stabiliser=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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