---
title: tattling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tattling» in the school dictionary: Tattling means telling an adult about someone's small misbehaviour, often just to get them into trouble (mainly American). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tattling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tattling, you, Telling, She, Nobody, teacher · **What happens:** mean, tell, get, gossip, chatter, stop · **To what, where:** adult, them, trouble, tattling, someone, class · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tattling» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [tattling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tattling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tattling means telling an adult about someone's small misbehaviour, often just to get them into trouble (mainly American).

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:m1:1
# text = Tattling means telling an adult about someone's small misbehaviour, often just to get them into trouble (mainly American).
1	Tattling	tattling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	misbehaviour	misbehaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	just	just	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	into	into	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Tattling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | Tattling *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  | about someone's small misbehaviour | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient about misbehaviour=Topic |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  | trouble |  | often *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Tattling can also mean gossiping or chattering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:m2:1
# text = Tattling can also mean gossiping or chattering.
1	Tattling	tattling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	gossiping	gossip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	chattering	chatter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Tattling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **gossip** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | gerund | Tattling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **chatter** | gerund | Tattling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop tattling on your little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x1:1
# text = Stop tattling on your little brother.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	tattling	tattle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tattle** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on your little brother | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is that tattling or telling?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x2:1
# text = Is that tattling or telling?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	tattling	tattling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	csubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | that tattling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling an adult that someone is hurt is not tattling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x3:1
# text = Telling an adult that someone is hurt is not tattling.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
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	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	tattling	tattle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	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** **tattle** | present · progressive | Telling |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She kept tattling about who was talking in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x4:1
# text = She kept tattling about who was talking in class.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tattling	tattle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	ccomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tattle** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **talk** | past · progressive |  |  |  | class |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody likes it when you are always tattling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x5:1
# text = Nobody likes it when you are always tattling.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	_
8	tattling	tattle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | Nobody | it |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 2 | **tattle** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher said, «If it's dangerous, it's not tattling.»

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x6:1
# text = My teacher said, «If it's dangerous, it's not tattling.»
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	tattling	tattle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | My teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | teacher |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **tattle** *in a quote* | present · progressive | teacher |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was called a tattletale for tattling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tattling:x7:1
# text = He was called a tattletale for tattling.
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	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tattling	tattling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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