---
title: startled — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «startled» in the school dictionary: Startled means suddenly surprised or a little frightened by something unexpected, so you jump or stop. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# startled

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, past form, loud bang, She, deer, phone · **What happens:** startle, mean, frighten, jump, stop, be · **To what, where:** little, past form, someone, cat, startled cry, horse · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«startled» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [startled in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/startled.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Startled means suddenly surprised or a little frightened by something unexpected, so you jump or stop.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:m1:1
# text = Startled means suddenly surprised or a little frightened by something unexpected, so you jump or stop.
1	Startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	surprised	surprised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	frightened	frighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
11	unexpected	unexpected	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	jump	jump	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | surprised *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **frighten** | participle |  | a little |  |  |  | by something | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **jump** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **stop** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Startled is also the past form of «startle», which means to surprise or frighten someone suddenly.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:m2:1
# text = Startled is also the past form of «startle», which means to surprise or frighten someone suddenly.
1	Startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	startle	startle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	surprise	surprise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	frighten	frighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
18	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	_
19	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | the past form |  |  |  | of startle | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present | the past form |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **surprise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the past form *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **frighten** | infinitive | the past form *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat was startled by the loud bang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x1:1
# text = The cat was startled by the loud bang.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | past · passive | the loud bang | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a startled cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x2:1
# text = She gave a startled cry.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a startled cry |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cry=Theme |
| 2 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't startle the horse by running behind it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x3:1
# text = Don't startle the horse by running behind it.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	startle	startle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **startle** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the horse |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus horse=Experiencer |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | behind horse | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind it=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The deer looked up, startled, and ran away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x4:1
# text = The deer looked up, startled, and ran away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deer	deer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	startled	startle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look up** | past | the deer |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **startle** | past | the deer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **run away** | past | the deer *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was startled when my phone rang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x5:1
# text = I was startled when my phone rang.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | past · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **ring** | past | my phone |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A startled dog may bite, so let it see you coming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x6:1
# text = A startled dog may bite, so let it see you coming.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **bite** | may | a startled dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **let** | infinitive | a startled dog *not said here* | dog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **see** | infinitive | dog *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **come** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was startled out of his sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x7:1
# text = He was startled out of his sleep.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sleep	sleep	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 | **startle** | past · passive |  | He |  | his sleep |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **sleep** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom sleep «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The startled birds flew off the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x8:1
# text = The startled birds flew off the fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **fly off** | past | the startled birds | the fence |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location fence=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Bill Jukes dead!” cried the startled pirates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:startled:x9:1
# text = “Bill Jukes dead!” cried the startled pirates.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Bill	Bill	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	Jukes	juke	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	startled	startle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **juke** *in a quote* | present | Bill |  |  |  |  | dead *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the startled pirates |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **startle** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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