---
title: telephone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «telephone» in the school dictionary: A telephone is a machine for talking to someone far away by sending sounds as electrical or radio signals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# telephone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** telephone, machine, telephone number, you, Alexander, We · **What happens:** be, talk, send, telephone, mean, call · **To what, where:** machine, sounds, someone, them, phone, number · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A telephone is a machine for talking to someone far away by sending sounds as electrical or radio signals.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:m1:1
# text = A telephone is a machine for talking to someone far away by sending sounds as electrical or radio signals.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	telephone	telephone	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	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
10	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
11	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
12	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	sending	send	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
14	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	electrical	electrical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	signals	signal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a telephone | a machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | a machine *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to someone; away *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to someone=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **send** | gerund | a machine *not said here* | sounds |  |  |  | as electrical radio signals | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=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 telephone someone means to call them on the phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:m2:1
# text = To telephone someone means to call them on the phone.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	telephone	telephone	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **telephone** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **call** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  | the phone |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A telephone number is the number you dial to reach someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:m3:1
# text = A telephone number is the number you dial to reach someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	dial	dial	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a telephone number | the number |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dial** | present | you | the number *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **reach** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learn your mum's telephone number by heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x1:1
# text = Learn your mum's telephone number by heart.
1	Learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | imperative | you *not said here* | your mum's telephone number |  |  |  | by heart | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The telephone rang during dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x2:1
# text = The telephone rang during dinner.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ring** | past | the telephone |  |  |  | during dinner |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In an emergency, telephone 999 for an ambulance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x3:1
# text = In an emergency, telephone 999 for an ambulance.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	emergency	emergency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	telephone	telephone	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ambulance	ambulance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **telephone** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | 999 |  | a emergency |  | for a ambulance | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent 999=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alexander Graham Bell worked on early telephones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x4:1
# text = Alexander Graham Bell worked on early telephones.
1	Alexander	Alexander	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Graham	Graham	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	Bell	Bell	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
4	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	telephones	telephone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Alexander |  |  |  |  | on early telephones | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on telephone=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a string telephone with two paper cups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x5:1
# text = We made a string telephone with two paper cups.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cups	cup	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 | **make** | past | We | a string telephone |  |  |  | with two paper cups | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent telephone=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma telephoned to say happy birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x6:1
# text = Grandma telephoned to say happy birthday.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	telephoned	telephone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **telephone** *speech: other* | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn instr\_communication-37.4.1 «NP V when S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Grandma *not said here* | happy birthday |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent birthday=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old red telephone boxes are still found in Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telephone:x7:1
# text = Old red telephone boxes are still found in Britain.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
2	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	telephone	telephone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	boxes	box	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present · passive |  | Old red telephone boxes |  | Britain | still |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

<!-- 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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