---
title: troll — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «troll» in the school dictionary: In Scandinavian fairy tales, a big, ugly, often stupid creature that lives in caves, mountains or under bridges. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/troll/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/) / troll

# troll

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** big stupid creature, person, troll, trolls, Someone, you · **What happens:** live, post, upset, start, troll, be · **To what, where:** caves, nasty messages, purpose, people, arguments, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«troll» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [troll in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/troll.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Scandinavian fairy tales, a big, ugly, often stupid creature that lives in caves, mountains or under bridges.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:m1:1
# text = In Scandinavian fairy tales, a big, ugly, often stupid creature that lives in caves, mountains or under bridges.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	Scandinavian	scandinavian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	caves	cave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	under	under	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	bridges	bridge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a big stupid creature |  |  | caves and mountains or bridges |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cave=Location |

<!-- .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: internet slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who posts nasty or silly messages online on purpose to upset people or start arguments.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:m2:1
# text = A person who posts nasty or silly messages online on purpose to upset people or start arguments.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	posts	post	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
9	online	online	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
17	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **post** | present | a person | nasty messages |  | purpose |  | online *property* | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Theme |
| 2 | **upset** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |
| 3 | **start** | present | a person *not said here* | arguments |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To troll is to post such messages, or to tease someone by pretending.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:m3:1
# text = To troll is to post such messages, or to tease someone by pretending.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	troll	troll	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	post	post	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tease	tease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **troll** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | post *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tease** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 4 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To fish by pulling a baited line slowly behind a boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:m4:1
# text = To fish by pulling a baited line slowly behind a boat.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	fish	fish	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	baited	bait	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
9	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fish** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pull** | gerund |  | a baited line |  | a boat |  | slowly *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Theme |
| 3 | **bait** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The troll lived under the bridge and roared at the goats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x1:1
# text = The troll lived under the bridge and roared at the goats.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	roared	roar	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	goats	goat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the troll |  |  | the bridge |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under bridge=Location |
| 2 | **roar** | past | the troll *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the goats | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at goat=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Norwegian tales, trolls turn to stone in sunlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x2:1
# text = In Norwegian tales, trolls turn to stone in sunlight.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	Norwegian	Norwegian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	trolls	troll	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | trolls |  |  | Norwegian tales |  | to stone; in sunlight | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme in tale=Source to stone=Trajectory in sunlight=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone was a troll and wrote mean comments on her video.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x3:1
# text = Someone was a troll and wrote mean comments on her video.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	comments	comment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Someone | a troll |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | past | Someone *not said here* | mean comments |  | her video |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent comment=Theme on video=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't feed the trolls; block them and tell a grown-up.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x4:1
# text = Don't feed the trolls; block them and tell a grown-up.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trolls	troll	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	block	block	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	grown	grown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **feed** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the trolls |  |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent troll=Recipient |
| 2 | **block** | infinitive | you *not said here* | trolls *= troll* |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer they=Theme |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | a grown up |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent up=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother was just trolling me when he said school was cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x5:1
# text = My brother was just trolling me when he said school was cancelled.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	trolling	troll	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **troll** | past · progressive | My brother | me |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent i=Location |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | school |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa trolled for fish from the back of the boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x6:1
# text = Grandpa trolled for fish from the back of the boat.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	trolled	troll	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **troll** | participle |  | Grandpa *not said here* |  | the back of the boat |  | for fish | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for fish=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Can you fight?’ roared the Troll.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:troll:x7:1
# text = ‘Can you fight?’ roared the Troll.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	roared	roar	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **roar** | past |  | the Troll |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
- ← previous: [trojan](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trojan/)
- next →: [trolley](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trolley/)
- ↑ back to [T in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/)