---
title: zinger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «zinger» in the school dictionary: A zinger is a quick, clever and funny remark, often a sharp joke at someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# zinger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** zinger, Grandma, real zinger, everyone, comedian, quiz · **What happens:** be, strike, come back, make, laugh, have · **To what, where:** quick remark, something, everyone, zinger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zinger is a quick, clever and funny remark, often a sharp joke at someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:m1:1
# text = A zinger is a quick, clever and funny remark, often a sharp joke at someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
10	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a zinger | a quick remark |  |  |  |  | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zinger can also be something surprising or striking, like a zinger of a question.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:m2:1
# text = A zinger can also be something surprising or striking, like a zinger of a question.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
7	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	striking	strike	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a zinger | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **strike** | gerund | a zinger *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma came back with a real zinger that made everyone laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x1:1
# text = Grandma came back with a real zinger that made everyone laugh.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	obj	_	_
11	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  | with a real zinger | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | past | a real zinger | everyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | infinitive | everyone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comedian had a zinger for every heckler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x2:1
# text = The comedian had a zinger for every heckler.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comedian	comedian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	heckler	heckler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the comedian | a zinger |  |  |  | for every heckler | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zinger=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The quiz ended with a zinger of a question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x3:1
# text = The quiz ended with a zinger of a question.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the quiz |  |  |  |  | with a zinger of a question | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with zinger=Subeventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thought of the perfect zinger an hour too late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x4:1
# text = He thought of the perfect zinger an hour too late.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good zinger is funny without being cruel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x5:1
# text = A good zinger is funny without being cruel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a good zinger |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | a good zinger *not said here* |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her speech ended with a zinger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zinger:x6:1
# text = Her speech ended with a zinger.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	zinger	zinger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | Her speech |  |  |  |  | with a zinger | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with zinger=Subeventuality |
| 2 | **speak** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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