---
title: thriller — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thriller» in the school dictionary: A thriller is an exciting book, film or TV show full of suspense and danger, often about crime, spies or chases, that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thriller

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thriller, exciting book, that, you, match, spy thriller · **What happens:** be, show, keep, want, know, happen · **To what, where:** exciting book, you, exciting event, me, thriller, 4 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thriller is an exciting book, film or TV show full of suspense and danger, often about crime, spies or chases, that keeps you wanting to know what happens next.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:m1:1
# text = A thriller is an exciting book, film or TV show full of suspense and danger, often about crime, spies or chases, that keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	suspense	suspense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
19	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	spies	spy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	chases	chase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj	_	_
27	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	parataxis	_	_
28	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	27	obj	_	_
29	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	27	xcomp	_	_
30	to	to	PART	TO	_	31	mark	_	_
31	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	29	xcomp	_	_
32	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	33	nsubj	_	_
33	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	ccomp	_	_
34	next	next	ADV	RB	_	33	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thriller | a exciting book and film or TV |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present | a exciting book and film or TV |  |  |  |  | full *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **keep** | present | that | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 6 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  |  | next *property* | 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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thriller is any very exciting event, like a match that is close until the end.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:m2:1
# text = A thriller is any very exciting event, like a match that is close until the end.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	until	until	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thriller | any exciting event |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a match |  |  |  | until the end | close *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spy thriller kept me reading late into the night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x1:1
# text = The spy thriller kept me reading late into the night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	night	night	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 | **keep** | past | the spy thriller | me |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **read** | gerund | the spy thriller *not said here* |  |  |  | night | late *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was a thriller that ended 4–3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x2:1
# text = The match was a thriller that ended 4–3.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the match | a thriller |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** | past | a thriller | 4 |  |  |  | – 3 | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality 4=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good thriller ends chapters with a cliffhanger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x3:1
# text = A good thriller ends chapters with a cliffhanger.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	chapters	chapter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cliffhanger	cliffhanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | a good thriller | chapters |  |  |  | with a cliffhanger | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector chapter=Eventuality with cliffhanger=Subeventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum likes crime thrillers on TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x4:1
# text = Mum likes crime thrillers on TV.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	thrillers	thriller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | Mum | crime thrillers |  | TV |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot thriller=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That film is a thriller, so it may be too scary for little kids.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x5:1
# text = That film is a thriller, so it may be too scary for little kids.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	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	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
11	too	too	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that film | a thriller |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | may | film |  |  |  |  | for little kids; scary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class wrote a short thriller about a stolen painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x6:1
# text = Our class wrote a short thriller about a stolen painting.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Our class | a short thriller |  |  |  | about a stolen painting | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thriller=Recipient about painting=Topic |
| 2 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Thriller» is also the name of a famous Michael Jackson song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thriller:x7:1
# text = «Thriller» is also the name of a famous Michael Jackson song.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Thriller	thriller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	Michael	Michael	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	Jackson	Jackson	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Thriller | the name |  |  |  | of a famous Jackson song | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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