---
title: telltale — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «telltale» in the school dictionary: A telltale sign is a small clue that shows something is true or has happened: telltale crumbs on his face. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# telltale

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** telltale sign, small clue, something, telltale, child, chocolate · **What happens:** be, show, happen, tell, do, not be · **To what, where:** small clue, telltale crumbs, tale, child, adults, telltale sign · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A telltale sign is a small clue that shows something is true or has happened: telltale crumbs on his face.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:m1:1
# text = A telltale sign is a small clue that shows something is true or has happened: telltale crumbs on his face.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clue	clue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	happened	happen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a telltale sign | a small clue |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present | a small clue |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **happen** | present · perfect | something *not said here* | telltale crumbs on his face |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ; children's word — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A telltale (or tell-tale) is a child who tells adults about other children's naughty behaviour, a tattletale (US).

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:m2:1
# text = A telltale (or tell-tale) is a child who tells adults about other children's naughty behaviour, a tattletale (US).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	telltale	telltale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
16	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	's	's	PART	POS	_	17	case	_	_
19	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	tattletale	tattletale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
24	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  | tale |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent tale=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a telltale | a child and a tattletale |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a child and a tattletale |  | adults |  |  | about other children's naughty behaviour | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient about behaviour=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chocolate on his chin was a telltale sign.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x1:1
# text = The chocolate on his chin was a telltale sign.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	chin	chin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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** | past | the chocolate on his chin | a telltale sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muddy paw prints were the telltale clues.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x2:1
# text = Muddy paw prints were the telltale clues.
1	Muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	paw	paw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	prints	print	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Muddy paw prints | the telltale clues |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a telltale!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x3:1
# text = Don't be a telltale!
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	telltale	telltale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	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 telltale |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling a teacher about bullying is not being a telltale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x4:1
# text = Telling a teacher about bullying is not being a telltale.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	telltale	telltale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 teacher |  |  | about bullying | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient about bullying=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | Telling | a telltale |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yawning is a telltale sign you need sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x5:1
# text = Yawning is a telltale sign you need sleep.
1	Yawning	yawning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Yawning | a telltale sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | you | sleep |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot sleep=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The telltale smoke showed where the fire was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:telltale:x6:1
# text = The telltale smoke showed where the fire was.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	telltale	telltale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the telltale smoke |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past | the fire |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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