---
title: crutch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crutch» in the school dictionary: A crutch is a long stick with a support for under the arm or a handle, used to help someone walk when a leg or foot is injured. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crutch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crutch, someone, leg, you, She, He · **What happens:** be, use, help, walk, depend on, break · **To what, where:** long stick, someone, something, much, crutches, ankle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crutch is a long stick with a support for under the arm or a handle, used to help someone walk when a leg or foot is injured.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:m1:1
# text = A crutch is a long stick with a support for under the arm or a handle, used to help someone walk when a leg or foot is injured.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crutch	crutch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	under	under	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
21	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	20	obj	_	_
22	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	29	advmod	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nsubj	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	conj	_	_
28	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	29	cop	_	_
29	injured	injured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crutch | a long stick |  |  |  | with a support for the arm or a handle | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle | a crutch *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | a crutch *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 4 | **walk** | infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **is** | present | a leg or foot |  |  |  |  | injured *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A crutch is something you depend on too much for support or comfort.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:m2:1
# text = A crutch is something you depend on too much for support or comfort.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crutch	crutch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	depend	depend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	comfort	comfort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crutch | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **depend on** | present | you | much |  |  |  | for support or comfort | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She walked on crutches after breaking her ankle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x1:1
# text = She walked on crutches after breaking her ankle.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	crutches	crutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | She |  |  | crutches |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on crutch=Trajectory |
| 2 | **break** | gerund | She *not said here* | her ankle |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He needed a pair of crutches for six weeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x2:1
# text = He needed a pair of crutches for six weeks.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	crutches	crutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | past | He | a pair of crutches |  |  | week |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot pair=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor showed me how to use the crutches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x3:1
# text = The doctor showed me how to use the crutches.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crutches	crutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the doctor |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive |  | the crutches |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crutch=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's hard to carry a tray when you're on crutches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x4:1
# text = It's hard to carry a tray when you're on crutches.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tray	tray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	crutches	crutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | to-infinitive |  | a tray |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tray=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  | crutches |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The calculator should not become a crutch; learn your times tables too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x5:1
# text = The calculator should not become a crutch; learn your times tables too.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	calculator	calculator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	crutch	crutch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	compound	_	_
12	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
13	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **become** | should | the calculator | a crutch |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **learn** | infinitive | the calculator *not said here* | your times tables |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent table=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the door for people on crutches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x6:1
# text = Hold the door for people on crutches.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	crutches	crutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the door |  | crutches |  | for people | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent door=Theme on crutch=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Outside the church door stood an old beggar, leaning on his crutch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crutch:x7:1
# text = Outside the church door stood an old beggar, leaning on his crutch.
1	Outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
5	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	beggar	beggar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	leaning	lean	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	crutch	crutch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past |  | a old beggar |  | the church door |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent beggar=Theme outside door=Destination |
| 2 | **lean** | gerund |  |  |  | his crutch |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on crutch=Location |

<!-- 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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