---
title: clench — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clench» in the school dictionary: To clench your fists or teeth means to press them tightly together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clench

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, She, I, you, baby, Tom · **What happens:** clench, mean, press, hold, keep, go · **To what, where:** fists, something, it, teeth, clenched teeth, jaw · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clench» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [clench in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clench.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To clench your fists or teeth means to press them tightly together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:m1:1
# text = To clench your fists or teeth means to press them tightly together.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	clench	clench	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fists	fist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | to-infinitive |  | your fists or teeth |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fist=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **press** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | fists *= fist* |  |  |  | together *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 -->
To clench something means to hold it very tightly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:m2:1
# text = To clench something means to hold it very tightly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	clench	clench	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hold** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | tightly *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He clenched his fists in anger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x1:1
# text = He clenched his fists in anger.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clenched	clench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fists	fist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | past | He | his fists |  |  |  | in anger | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent fist=Patient in anger=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She clenched her teeth and kept going.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x2:1
# text = She clenched her teeth and kept going.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clenched	clench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | past | She | her teeth |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I am fine,» he said through clenched teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x3:1
# text = «I am fine,» he said through clenched teeth.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	clenched	clench	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  | clenched teeth |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **clench** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try not to clench your jaw when you are worried.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x4:1
# text = Try not to clench your jaw when you are worried.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	clench	clench	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	jaw	jaw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **clench** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your jaw |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jaw=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | worried *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby clenched my finger in her tiny hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x5:1
# text = The baby clenched my finger in her tiny hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clenched	clench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | past | the baby | my finger |  |  |  | in baby's tiny hand | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent finger=Patient in hand=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unclench your hands and take a deep breath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x6:1
# text = Unclench your hands and take a deep breath.
1	Unclench	unclench	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unclench** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive | you *not said here* | a deep breath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breath=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom clenched the rope as he climbed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x7:1
# text = Tom clenched the rope as he climbed.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clenched	clench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | past | Tom | the rope |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Patient |
| 2 | **climb** | past | Tom |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My stomach clenched with fear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x8:1
# text = My stomach clenched with fear.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clenched	clench	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clench** | participle | My stomach |  |  |  |  | with fear | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ugly monkeys sat high in the branches and clenched their teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clench:x9:1
# text = Ugly monkeys sat high in the branches and clenched their teeth.
1	Ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	monkeys	monkey	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	clenched	clench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | Ugly monkeys |  |  | the branches |  | high *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in branch=Location |
| 2 | **clench** | past | Ugly monkeys *not said here* | monkeys's teeth |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient |

<!-- 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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