---
title: tattletale — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tattletale» in the school dictionary: A tattletale is a person, often a child, who tells a teacher or parent about other people's small mistakes, usually to get them into trouble. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tattletale

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tattletale, person, other people, It, you, They · **What happens:** be, tell, get, mistake, use, do · **To what, where:** person, teacher, trouble, informal unkind name, USA, tattletale · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tattletale» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [tattletale in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tattletale.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tattletale is a person, often a child, who tells a teacher or parent about other people's small mistakes, usually to get them into trouble.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:m1:1
# text = A tattletale is a person, often a child, who tells a teacher or parent about other people's small mistakes, usually to get them into trouble.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tattletale	tattletale	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	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	about	about	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
18	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
27	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	obj	_	_
28	into	into	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
29	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tattletale | a person and a child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a person and a child |  | a teacher or parent |  |  | about other people's small mistakes | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient about mistake=Topic |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive | a person and a child *not said here* | teacher |  | trouble |  | usually *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |
| 4 | **mistake** |  | other people |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 -->
It is an informal, unkind name, mostly used in the USA and Canada.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:m2:1
# text = It is an informal, unkind name, mostly used in the USA and Canada.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a informal unkind name |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a informal unkind name *not said here* |  | the USA and Canada |  | mostly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a tattletale about every little thing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x1:1
# text = Don't be a tattletale about every little thing.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | a tattletale |  |  |  | about every little thing | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They called him a tattletale for telling the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x2:1
# text = They called him a tattletale for telling the teacher.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | They |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | They *not said here* |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling an adult when someone is hurt is not being a tattletale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x3:1
# text = Telling an adult when someone is hurt is not being a tattletale.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
10	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 2 | **hurt** | present · passive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | present | Telling | a tattletale |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Tattletale!» shouted his sister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x4:1
# text = «Tattletale!» shouted his sister.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | Tattletale |  | Tattletale's sister |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sister=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the UK, a tattletale is often called a telltale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x5:1
# text = In the UK, a tattletale is often called a telltale.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	telltale	telltale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a tattletale |  | the UK |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If it's a safety problem, always tell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattletale:x6:1
# text = If it's a safety problem, always tell.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | it | a safety problem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | always *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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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