---
title: clack — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clack» in the school dictionary: To make a short, sharp sound like two hard things hitting each other. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clack

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** two hard things, heels, keyboard, shoes, We, knitting needles · **What happens:** make, hit, clack, chatter, hear, type · **To what, where:** short sharp sound, each, stone floor, clack, old typewriter, rails

<!-- .vabout -->
«clack» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [clack in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clack.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a short, sharp sound like two hard things hitting each other.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:m1:1
# text = To make a short, sharp sound like two hard things hitting each other.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
12	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	12	obj	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a short sharp sound |  |  |  | like two hard things | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |
| 2 | **hit** | gerund | two hard things *not said here* | each |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme each=Co-Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
The sound itself (the clack of heels, the clack of a keyboard).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:m2:1
# text = The sound itself (the clack of heels, the clack of a keyboard).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	2	nmod:unmarked	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clack	clack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	heels	heel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	clack	clack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	keyboard	keyboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** |  | heels |  |  |  |  |  | nom clack «event intransitive»: of=agent |
| 2 | **clack** |  | a keyboard |  |  |  |  |  | nom clack «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To chatter loudly and on and on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:m3:1
# text = To chatter loudly and on and on.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	chatter	chatter	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	on	on	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	on	on	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chatter** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her shoes clacked on the stone floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x1:1
# text = Her shoes clacked on the stone floor.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clacked	clack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | past | Her shoes |  |  | the stone floor |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on floor=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard the clack of knitting needles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x2:1
# text = We heard the clack of knitting needles.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clack	clack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	knitting	knitting	NOUN	NN	_	7	compound	_	_
7	needles	needle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | the clack of knitting needles |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer clack=Stimulus |
| 2 | **clack** |  | knitting needles |  |  |  |  |  | nom clack «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old typewriter clacked as Grandad typed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x3:1
# text = The old typewriter clacked as Grandad typed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	typewriter	typewriter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	clacked	clack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	typed	type	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | participle |  | the old typewriter *not said here* |  |  |  | as Grandad | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **type** | past | the old typewriter |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The train clacked over the rails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x4:1
# text = The train clacked over the rails.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clacked	clack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | past | the train |  |  | the rails |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over rail=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stork clacked its long beak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x5:1
# text = The stork clacked its long beak.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stork	stork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clacked	clack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | past | the stork | stork's long beak |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location beak=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castanets clacked in time to the music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x6:1
# text = The castanets clacked in time to the music.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clacked	clack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | past | the castanets |  |  |  | time | to the music | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keyboards were clacking all over the computer room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x7:1
# text = Keyboards were clacking all over the computer room.
1	Keyboards	keyboard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	clacking	clack	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clack** | past · progressive | Keyboards |  |  | the computer room |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over room=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Click, clock, clack, Our golden maid’s come back.’

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clack:x8:1
# text = ‘Click, clock, clack, Our golden maid’s come back.’
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	clack	clack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
9	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	maid	maid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	’s	'	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **click** | imperative | you *not said here* | clock and clack |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location clock=Theme |
| 2 | **come back** | present | Our golden maid ’s |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**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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