---
title: timer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «timer» in the school dictionary: A timer is a device that measures how much time passes and often rings or beeps when a set time is over, like a kitchen timer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# timer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** timer, device, much time, set time, you, cookies · **What happens:** be, measure, pass, ring, beep, turn · **To what, where:** device, machine, timer, sand timer, sand, time · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«timer» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [timer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/timer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A timer is a device that measures how much time passes and often rings or beeps when a set time is over, like a kitchen timer.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:m1:1
# text = A timer is a device that measures how much time passes and often rings or beeps when a set time is over, like a kitchen timer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	timer	timer	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	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	measures	measure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	passes	pass	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	rings	ring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	beeps	beep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	22	mark	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
22	over	over	ADV	RB	_	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
24	like	like	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a timer | a device |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **measure** | present | a device |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pass** | present | much time |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **ring** | present | a device *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **beep** | present | a device *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **is** | present | a set time |  |  |  |  | over *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A timer can also turn a machine on or off automatically at a set time.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:m2:1
# text = A timer can also turn a machine on or off automatically at a set time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	off	off	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
11	automatically	automatically	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | can | a timer | a machine |  |  | time | off *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent machine=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Set the timer for ten minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x1:1
# text = Set the timer for ten minutes.
1	Set	set	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | imperative | you *not said here* | the timer |  |  | minute |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient timer=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The timer beeped, so the cookies were ready.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x2:1
# text = The timer beeped, so the cookies were ready.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	beeped	beep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cookies	cookie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beep** | past | the timer |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the cookies |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used a timer to see who could run fastest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x3:1
# text = We used a timer to see who could run fastest.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
10	fastest	fast	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a timer |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent timer=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **run** | could |  |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher turned over the sand timer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x4:1
# text = The teacher turned over the sand timer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the teacher |  |  | the sand timer |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme over timer=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The heating comes on with a timer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x5:1
# text = The heating comes on with a timer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	heating	heating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come on** | present | the heating |  |  |  |  | with a timer | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The egg timer has sand in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x6:1
# text = The egg timer has sand in it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the egg timer | sand |  | sand |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sand=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the timer goes off, it is time to tidy up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x7:1
# text = When the timer goes off, it is time to tidy up.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go off** | present | the timer |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | timer | time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tidy up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My phone has a timer for brushing my teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:timer:x8:1
# text = My phone has a timer for brushing my teeth.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	timer	timer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My phone | a timer |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent timer=Patient |
| 2 | **brush** | gerund | a timer *not said here* | my teeth |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=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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