telling

«telling» in Mova's school dictionary: telling a story» — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

adjective (telling, more telling, most telling); also the present participle and gerund of «tell» (tell, tells, told, telling); noun (a telling, tellings)

meaning for a pupil

1) (verb form) Saying or reporting something: «She is telling a story». tree →

2) (adjective) Showing something important, often more than people meant to show: «a telling remark». tree →

3) (adjective) Having a strong effect: «a telling blow». tree →

4) (noun) The act of telling a story: «In this telling of the tale, the wolf is kind». tree →

5) (phrase) «telling off» = a scolding (UK, Australia); «that's telling him» = a sharp reply; «there's no telling» = no way to know. tree →

6) "Did not need twice telling" means a person did what they were asked straight away. tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories and English lessons: a telling detail shows a character's feelings or a clue. In everyday life: «I got a telling-off for being late». In maths problems «telling» can mean what information you are given. Phrases: «telling the time», «telling off», «there's no telling», «a telling sign».

examples

• Grandad is telling us a story about the war. tree →
• She said nothing, but her silence was telling. tree →
• The muddy footprints were a telling clue. tree →
• I got a telling-off from Mum for leaving my bike out. tree →
• There's no telling what the cat will do next. tree →
• In this telling of Cinderella, the stepsisters are nice. tree →
• We are learning telling the time in class. tree →
• The man did not need twice telling. tree →

note

«Telling» as an adjective is not about speaking: «a telling look» shows something without words. «Telling off» (noun, UK/Aus) = a scolding; the verb is «tell someone off». «Tell» past: told (not «telled»).

In the corpora

• Many parents wait about three months before telling people, because the early weeks are the most uncertain.
• Afterwards everyone goes to the pub, and some people even laugh while telling stories about Grandad.
• Before passing a story on, check it: a small nip can become a horror story in three tellings.
• Telling a trusted adult that someone may be in danger is not gossip; it helps.
• Keeping it a secret usually makes the feeling heavier; telling makes it lighter.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «telling» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.