scruff Who acts: scruff, mother cats, mother cat, He, teacher, you · What happens: be, carry, look, grab, stop, run · To what, where: loose skin, back, kittens, untidy looking person, kitten, puppy
«scruff» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: scruff in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 The scruff (of the neck) is the loose skin at the back of an animal's neck; mother cats carry kittens by it.
The tree, 23 words det nsubj punct case det appos punct cop det amod case det nmod case det nmod:poss case nmod punct compound nsubj conj obj case obl punct root The DET scruff NOUN ( PUNCT of ADP the DET neck NOUN ) PUNCT is AUX the DET loose ADJ skin NOUN at ADP the DET back NOUN of ADP an DET animal NOUN 's PART neck NOUN ; PUNCT mother NOUN cats NOUN carry VERB kittens NOUN by ADP it PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 scruff det 2 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 11 skin nsubj 3 ( ( PUNCT _ 6 neck punct 4 of of ADP _ 6 neck case 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 neck det 6 neck neck NOUN Number=Sing 2 scruff appos 7 ) ) PUNCT _ 6 neck punct 8 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 11 skin cop 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 skin det 10 loose loose ADJ Degree=Pos 11 skin amod 11 skin skin NOUN Number=Sing root root 12 at at ADP _ 14 back case 13 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 14 back det 14 back back NOUN Number=Sing 11 skin nmod 15 of of ADP _ 19 neck case 16 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 17 animal det 17 animal animal NOUN Number=Sing 19 neck nmod:poss 18 's 's PART _ 17 animal case 19 neck neck NOUN Number=Sing 14 back nmod 20 ; ; PUNCT _ 23 carry punct 21 mother mother NOUN Number=Sing 22 cats compound 22 cats cat NOUN Number=Plur 23 carry nsubj 23 carry carry VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 11 skin conj 24 kittens kitten NOUN Number=Plur 23 carry obj 25 by by ADP _ 26 it case 26 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 23 carry obl 27 . . PUNCT _ 11 skin punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present the scruff the loose skin the back of a animal's neck tree rules 2 carry present mother cats kittens by scruff vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme
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 A scruff is an untidy, dirty-looking person (informal, UK).
The tree, 10 words det nsubj cop det amod punct compound punct amod punct appos punct obl punct punct root A DET scruff NOUN is AUX an DET untidy ADJ , PUNCT dirty ADJ - PUNCT looking VERB person NOUN ( PUNCT informal ADJ , PUNCT UK PROPN ) PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 scruff det 2 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 10 person nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 person cop 4 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 person det 5 untidy untidy ADJ Degree=Pos 10 person amod 6 , , PUNCT _ 5 untidy punct 7 dirty dirty ADJ Degree=Pos 9 looking compound 8 - - PUNCT _ 7 dirty punct 9 looking look VERB VerbForm=Ger 10 person amod 10 person person NOUN Number=Sing root root 11 ( ( PUNCT _ 12 informal punct 12 informal informal ADJ Degree=Pos 10 person appos 13 , , PUNCT _ 14 UK punct 14 UK UK PROPN Number=Sing 12 informal obl 15 ) ) PUNCT _ 12 informal punct 16 . . PUNCT _ 10 person punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 look gerund vn stimulus_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus 2 is a present a scruff a untidy looking person tree rules
Example 1 The mother cat carried her kitten by the scruff.
det compound nsubj nmod:poss obj case det obl punct root The DET mother NOUN cat NOUN carried VERB her PRON kitten NOUN by ADP the DET scruff NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 cat det 2 mother mother NOUN Number=Sing 3 cat compound 3 cat cat NOUN Number=Sing 4 carried nsubj 4 carried carry VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 5 her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 6 kitten nmod:poss 6 kitten kitten NOUN Number=Sing 4 carried obj 7 by by ADP _ 9 scruff case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 scruff det 9 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 4 carried obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 4 carried punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 carry past the mother cat cat's kitten by the scruff vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme
Example 2 He grabbed the puppy by the scruff to stop it running into the road.
The tree, 14 words nsubj det obj case det obl mark advcl obj xcomp case det obl punct root He PRON grabbed VERB the DET puppy NOUN by ADP the DET scruff NOUN to PART stop VERB it PRON running VERB into ADP the DET road NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 2 grabbed nsubj 2 grabbed grab VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 puppy det 4 puppy puppy NOUN Number=Sing 2 grabbed obj 5 by by ADP _ 7 scruff case 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 scruff det 7 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 2 grabbed obl 8 to to PART _ 9 stop mark 9 stop stop VERB VerbForm=Inf 2 grabbed advcl 10 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 9 stop obj 11 running run VERB VerbForm=Ger 9 stop xcomp 12 into into ADP _ 14 road case 13 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 14 road det 14 road road NOUN Number=Sing 11 running obl 15 . . PUNCT _ 2 grabbed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 grab past He the puppy by the scruff vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppy=Theme 2 stop to-infinitive He not said here puppy tree rules 3 run gerund He not said here into the road result vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into road=Result
Example 3 The teacher took the bully by the scruff of the neck.
det nsubj det obj case det obl case det nmod punct root The DET teacher NOUN took VERB the DET bully NOUN by ADP the DET scruff NOUN of ADP the DET neck NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 teacher det 2 teacher teacher NOUN Number=Sing 3 took nsubj 3 took take VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 bully det 5 bully bully NOUN Number=Sing 3 took obj 6 by by ADP _ 8 scruff case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 scruff det 8 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 3 took obl 9 of of ADP _ 11 neck case 10 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 neck det 11 neck neck NOUN Number=Sing 8 scruff nmod 12 . . PUNCT _ 3 took punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 take past the teacher the bully by the scruff of the neck vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bully=Theme
Example 4 Go and wash — you look like a scruff!
cc conj punct nsubj advcl case det obl punct root Go VERB and CCONJ wash VERB — PUNCT you PRON look VERB like ADP a DET scruff NOUN ! PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Go go VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 and and CCONJ _ 3 wash cc 3 wash wash VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 1 Go conj 4 — - PUNCT _ 6 look punct 5 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 6 look nsubj 6 look look VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 1 Go advcl 7 like like ADP _ 9 scruff case 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 scruff det 9 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 6 look obl 10 ! ! PUNCT _ 1 Go punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 go imperative you not said here vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 2 wash infinitive you not said here vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 3 look present you like a scruff vn stimulus_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus
Example 5 Don't pick up an adult cat by the scruff; it can hurt.
The tree, 13 words aux advmod compound:prt det amod obj case det obl punct nsubj aux conj punct root Do AUX n't PART pick VERB up ADP an DET adult ADJ cat NOUN by ADP the DET scruff NOUN ; PUNCT it PRON can AUX hurt VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Do do AUX Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 3 pick aux 2 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 3 pick advmod 3 pick pick VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 4 up up ADP _ 3 pick compound:prt 5 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 7 cat det 6 adult adult ADJ Degree=Pos 7 cat amod 7 cat cat NOUN Number=Sing 3 pick obj 8 by by ADP _ 10 scruff case 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 scruff det 10 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 3 pick obl 11 ; ; PUNCT _ 14 hurt punct 12 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 14 hurt nsubj 13 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 14 hurt aux 14 hurt hurt VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 pick conj 15 . . PUNCT _ 3 pick punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not pick up imperative · do-support you not said here a adult cat by the scruff vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Topic 2 hurt can cat vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP-PRO-ARB»: agent=Stimulus
Example 6 The lioness lifted her cub gently by the scruff.
det nsubj nmod:poss obj advmod case det obl punct root The DET lioness NOUN lifted VERB her PRON cub NOUN gently ADV by ADP the DET scruff NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 lioness det 2 lioness lioness NOUN Number=Sing 3 lifted nsubj 3 lifted lift VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 5 cub nmod:poss 5 cub cub NOUN Number=Sing 3 lifted obj 6 gently gently ADV _ 3 lifted advmod 7 by by ADP _ 9 scruff case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 scruff det 9 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 3 lifted obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 lifted punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 lift past the lioness lioness's cub by the scruff; gently property vn put_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent cub=Theme by scruff=Destination
Example 7 Tom done nothing but take the fellow by the scruff o' the neck and the waistband of his corduroys, and fling him into the canal.
The tree, 25 words nsubj amod cc conj det obj case det obl case punct det nmod cc det conj case nmod:poss nmod punct cc conj obj case det obl punct root Tom PROPN done VERB nothing PRON but CCONJ take VERB the DET fellow NOUN by ADP the DET scruff NOUN o ADP ' PUNCT the DET neck NOUN and CCONJ the DET waistband NOUN of ADP his PRON corduroys NOUN , PUNCT and CCONJ fling VERB him PRON into ADP the DET canal NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Tom Tom PROPN Number=Sing 3 nothing nsubj 2 done do VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 3 nothing amod 3 nothing nothing PRON Number=Sing PronType=Neg root root 4 but but CCONJ _ 5 take cc 5 take take VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 nothing conj 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 fellow det 7 fellow fellow NOUN Number=Sing 5 take obj 8 by by ADP _ 10 scruff case 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 scruff det 10 scruff scruff NOUN Number=Sing 5 take obl 11 o of ADP Abbr=Yes 14 neck case 12 ' ' PUNCT _ 14 neck punct 13 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 14 neck det 14 neck neck NOUN Number=Sing 10 scruff nmod 15 and and CCONJ _ 17 waistband cc 16 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 17 waistband det 17 waistband waistband NOUN Number=Sing 14 neck conj 18 of of ADP _ 20 corduroys case 19 his his PRON Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 20 corduroys nmod:poss 20 corduroys corduroy NOUN Number=Plur 17 waistband nmod 21 , , PUNCT _ 23 fling punct 22 and and CCONJ _ 23 fling cc 23 fling fling VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 nothing conj 24 him he PRON Case=Acc Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 23 fling obj 25 into into ADP _ 27 canal case 26 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 27 canal det 27 canal canal NOUN Number=Sing 23 fling obl 28 . . PUNCT _ 3 nothing punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 do participle vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 take infinitive the fellow by the scruff of the neck and the waistband of Tom's corduroys vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument fellow=Destination 3 fling infinitive Tom the canal vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent he=Theme into canal=Destination
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.
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