---
title: stumble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stumble» in the school dictionary: To stumble is to trip and almost fall when walking or running. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stumble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, He, She, We, you, nobody · **What happens:** stumble, be, fall, walk, run, stop · **To what, where:** something, stairs, tree root, long word, woods, tired hiker · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«stumble» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [stumble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stumble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stumble is to trip and almost fall when walking or running.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:m1:1
# text = To stumble is to trip and almost fall when walking or running.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stumble	stumble	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	trip	trip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	fall	fall	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | trip *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall** | present |  |  |  |  |  | almost *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **walk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
To stumble is to make mistakes or stop when speaking or reading aloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:m2:1
# text = To stumble is to make mistakes or stop when speaking or reading aloud.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stumble	stumble	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	conj	_	_
13	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **stop** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **read** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stumble on or across something is to find it by chance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:m3:1
# text = To stumble on or across something is to find it by chance.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stumble	stumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	3	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on something=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | by chance; find *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I stumbled on the stairs but didn't fall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x1:1
# text = I stumbled on the stairs but didn't fall.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | I |  |  | the stairs |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on stair=Trajectory |
| 2 | **not** **fall** | past · do-support | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He stumbled over a tree root in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x2:1
# text = He stumbled over a tree root in the dark.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | He |  |  | a tree root |  | in the dark | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over root=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stumbled over the long word when reading aloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x3:1
# text = She stumbled over the long word when reading aloud.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | She |  |  | the long word |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over word=Trajectory |
| 2 | **read** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We stumbled upon a hidden path in the woods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x4:1
# text = We stumbled upon a hidden path in the woods.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | We |  |  | the woods |  | upon a hidden path | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme upon path=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tired hiker stumbled into camp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x5:1
# text = The tired hiker stumbled into camp.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hiker	hiker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	camp	camp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | participle |  | the tired hiker *not said here* |  | camp |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into camp=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pick up your toys so nobody stumbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x6:1
# text = Pick up your toys so nobody stumbles.
1	Pick	pick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stumbles	stumble	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick up** | imperative | you *not said here* | your toys |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toy=Topic |
| 2 | **stumble** | present | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horse stumbled but kept running.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x7:1
# text = The horse stumbled but kept running.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | the horse |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | past | the horse *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **run** | gerund | the horse *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soon he stumbled upon thickly strewn dry willow sticks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stumble:x8:1
# text = Soon he stumbled upon thickly strewn dry willow sticks.
1	Soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	thickly	thickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	strewn	strewn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	willow	willow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stumble** | past | he |  |  | thickly strewn dry willow sticks |  | soon *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme upon stick=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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