---
title: crowbar — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crowbar» in the school dictionary: A crowbar is a long, heavy metal bar with a flat or bent end, used to lift or force things open. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crowbar

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crowbar, It, small push, builder, He, Firefighters · **What happens:** be, use, lift, force, work, give · **To what, where:** long heavy metal bar, things, big force, crowbar, old floorboards, stuck lid · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crowbar is a long, heavy metal bar with a flat or bent end, used to lift or force things open.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:m1:1
# text = A crowbar is a long, heavy metal bar with a flat or bent end, used to lift or force things open.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	force	force	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	conj	_	_
22	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
23	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crowbar | a long heavy metal bar |  |  | with a flat end |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle | a crowbar *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **lift** | to-infinitive | a crowbar *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **force** | infinitive | a crowbar *not said here* | things |  |  |  | open *property* | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
It works as a lever, so a small push gives a big force.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:m2:1
# text = It works as a lever, so a small push gives a big force.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	push	push	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | It |  |  |  |  | as a lever | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.attribute PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent as lever=Attribute |
| 2 | **give** | present | a small push | a big force |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent force=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builder used a crowbar to lift the old floorboards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x1:1
# text = The builder used a crowbar to lift the old floorboards.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	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	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	floorboards	floorboard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the builder | a crowbar |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crowbar=Patient |
| 2 | **lift** | to-infinitive | the builder *not said here* | the old floorboards |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent floorboard=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He forced the stuck lid open with a crowbar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x2:1
# text = He forced the stuck lid open with a crowbar.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	forced	force	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | past | He | the stuck lid |  |  |  | open *property* | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lid=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crowbar is a kind of lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x3:1
# text = A crowbar is a kind of lever.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crowbar | a kind |  |  |  | of lever | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The longer the crowbar, the easier it is to lift the stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x4:1
# text = The longer the crowbar, the easier it is to lift the stone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | crowbar |  |  |  |  | lift *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Firefighters used a crowbar to open the jammed door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x5:1
# text = Firefighters used a crowbar to open the jammed door.
1	Firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	jammed	jam	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Firefighters | a crowbar |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crowbar=Patient |
| 2 | **open** | to-infinitive | Firefighters *not said here* | the jammed door |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location door=Theme |
| 3 | **jam** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad pulled out the rusty nails with a crowbar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x6:1
# text = Dad pulled out the rusty nails with a crowbar.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	rusty	rusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull out** | past | Dad | the rusty nails |  |  |  | with a crowbar | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crowbars are very heavy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x7:1
# text = Crowbars are very heavy.
1	Crowbars	crowbar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Crowbars |  |  |  |  | heavy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief left a crowbar behind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x8:1
# text = The thief left a crowbar behind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	left	leave	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	crowbar	crowbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the thief | a crowbar |  |  |  | behind *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crowbar=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the people outside found that the door was not opened to them, they took crowbars and forced the portal.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crowbar:x9:1
# text = When the people outside found that the door was not opened to them, they took crowbars and forced the portal.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	opened	open	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	ccomp	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	crowbars	crowbar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	forced	force	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	portal	portal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the people |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **open** | past · passive |  | the door | people |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: subject=Patient to they=Recipient |
| 3 | **take** | past | people | crowbars |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crowbar=Theme |
| 4 | **force** | past | people *not said here* | the portal |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent portal=Recipient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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