---
title: standby — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «standby» in the school dictionary: Standby is being ready to be used or to act if needed, as in «on standby». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# standby

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Standby, Standby mode, standby ticket, free seat, TV, red light · **What happens:** be, use, act, need, keep, switch off · **To what, where:** standby, person, TV, little power, one, computers

<!-- .vabout -->
«standby» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [standby in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/standby.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Standby is being ready to be used or to act if needed, as in «on standby».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:m1:1
# text = Standby is being ready to be used or to act if needed, as in «on standby».
1	Standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Standby |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive · passive | Standby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |
| 3 | **act** | to-infinitive | Standby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **need** *a condition, not said to happen* | participle | Standby *not said here* | standby |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot standby=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 standby is a person or thing kept ready in case it is needed, like a spare.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:m2:1
# text = A standby is a person or thing kept ready in case it is needed, like a spare.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	standby	standby	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	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
9	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	in	in	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	14	mark	_	_
11	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	fixed	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	spare	spare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	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 standby | a person or thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  | a person or thing *not said here* |  |  |  | ready *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **need** | present · passive |  | standby |  |  |  | like a spare | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Standby mode is when a TV or computer is switched off but still uses a little power, ready to turn on quickly.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:m3:1
# text = Standby mode is when a TV or computer is switched off but still uses a little power, ready to turn on quickly.
1	Standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	mode	mode	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	switched	switch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
11	off	off	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	still	still	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
22	on	on	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Standby mode |  |  |  |  | when *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **switch off** | present · passive |  | a TV or computer |  |  |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | present |  | a little power |  |  | still |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |
| 4 | **turn on** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A standby ticket is one bought at the last minute if there is a free seat.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:m4:1
# text = A standby ticket is one bought at the last minute if there is a free seat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ticket	ticket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	bought	buy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	13	expl	_	_
13	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a standby ticket | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | participle |  |  |  |  | minute |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **be** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a free seat |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The TV is on standby, so the red light is on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x1:1
# text = The TV is on standby, so the red light is on.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	on	on	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the TV |  |  | standby |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the red light |  |  |  |  | on *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn off computers at the plug, not just on standby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x2:1
# text = Turn off computers at the plug, not just on standby.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	off	off	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	computers	computer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plug	plug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn off** | imperative | you *not said here* | computers |  | the plug and standby |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent computer=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters were on standby during the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x3:1
# text = The firefighters were on standby during the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the firefighters |  |  | standby | during the storm |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We keep candles as a standby in case of a power cut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x4:1
# text = We keep candles as a standby in case of a power cut.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	candles	candle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | We | candles |  | case of a power cut |  | as a standby | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent candle=Theme in case=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We flew on standby and got the last two seats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x5:1
# text = We flew on standby and got the last two seats.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | We |  |  | standby |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent on standby=Location |
| 2 | **get** | past | We *not said here* | the last two seats |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer seat=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stand by for the next instruction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x6:1
# text = Stand by for the next instruction.
1	Stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by the next instruction | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by instruction=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good friend will stand by you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x7:1
# text = A good friend will stand by you.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | future | a good friend |  |  |  |  | by you | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by you=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor was on standby all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:standby:x8:1
# text = The doctor was on standby all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	standby	standby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the doctor |  |  | standby | night |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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