---
title: toddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «toddle» in the school dictionary: To toddle is to walk with short, wobbly steps, the way a small child who has just learned to walk does. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# toddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small child, Babies, Grandpa, She · **What happens:** toddle, be, learn, walk, do, mean · **To what, where:** way, baby brother, kitchen, little girl, shop, puppy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To toddle is to walk with short, wobbly steps, the way a small child who has just learned to walk does.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:m1:1
# text = To toddle is to walk with short, wobbly steps, the way a small child who has just learned to walk does.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	toddle	toddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	wobbly	wobbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
18	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	just	just	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	learned	learn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	16	acl:relcl	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with short wobbly steps; walk *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **learn** | present · perfect | a small child |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **walk** | to-infinitive | a small child *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **do** | present | a small child | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Informally, to toddle somewhere means to walk or go there slowly and calmly.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:m2:1
# text = Informally, to toddle somewhere means to walk or go there slowly and calmly.
1	Informally	informally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	toddle	toddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
5	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
12	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	calmly	calmly	ADV	RB	_	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | informally, somewhere *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **walk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **go** | infinitive |  |  |  | there |  | slowly *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My baby brother toddled across the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x1:1
# text = My baby brother toddled across the kitchen.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	toddled	toddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | participle |  | baby brother *not said here* |  | the kitchen |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across kitchen=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little girl toddled after the ducks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x2:1
# text = The little girl toddled after the ducks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	toddled	toddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | participle |  | the little girl *not said here* |  |  | after the ducks |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Babies usually start to toddle when they are about one year old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x3:1
# text = Babies usually start to toddle when they are about one year old.
1	Babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	toddle	toddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	about	about	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Babies |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **toddle** | to-infinitive | Babies *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | Babies *= baby* |  |  |  | year | old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa said he would toddle down to the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x4:1
# text = Grandpa said he would toddle down to the shop.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	toddle	toddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Grandpa |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **toddle down** | would | Grandpa |  |  | the shop |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to shop=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy toddled behind the toddler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x5:1
# text = The puppy toddled behind the toddler.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	toddled	toddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | participle |  | the puppy *not said here* |  |  |  | behind the toddler | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind toddler=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She toddled into the room holding her teddy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toddle:x6:1
# text = She toddled into the room holding her teddy.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	toddled	toddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	teddy	teddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toddle** | past | She |  |  | the room |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into room=Destination |
| 2 | **hold** | gerund | She *not said here* | her teddy |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teddy=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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