---
title: fingernail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fingernail» in the school dictionary: The hard thin layer that covers and protects the top of the tip of each finger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fingernail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hard thin layer, you, Mum, mud, Fingernails, She · **What happens:** cover, protect, scrub, wash, cut, be · **To what, where:** top, fingernails, hands, tiny fingernails, three millimetres, blackboard

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hard thin layer that covers and protects the top of the tip of each finger.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:m1:1
# text = The hard thin layer that covers and protects the top of the tip of each finger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	layer	layer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | present | the hard thin layer |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **protect** | present | the hard thin layer *not said here* | the top of the tip of each finger |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent top=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scrub under your fingernails when you wash your hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x1:1
# text = Scrub under your fingernails when you wash your hands.
1	Scrub	scrub	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	under	under	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	wash	wash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrub** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | your fingernails |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wash** | present | you | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum cut the baby's tiny fingernails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x2:1
# text = Mum cut the baby's tiny fingernails.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cut	cut	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	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | Mum | the baby's tiny fingernails |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingernail=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was mud under my fingernails after gardening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x3:1
# text = There was mud under my fingernails after gardening.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	gardening	garden	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | mud |  |  | my fingernails; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under fingernail=Location |
| 2 | **garden** | gerund | mud *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try not to bite your fingernails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x4:1
# text = Try not to bite your fingernails.
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	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	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** **bite** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your fingernails |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingernail=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fingernails grow only about three millimetres a month.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x5:1
# text = Fingernails grow only about three millimetres a month.
1	Fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	millimetres	millimetre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	month	month	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Fingernails | three millimetres  a month |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location millimetre=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She painted her fingernails pink for the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x6:1
# text = She painted her fingernails pink for the party.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	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	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | She | her fingernails |  |  |  | for the party; pink *property* | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent fingernail=Result for party=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fingernails are made of the same stuff as hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x7:1
# text = Fingernails are made of the same stuff as hair.
1	Fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stuff	stuff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | Fingernails |  |  |  | of the same stuff as hair | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scratching a blackboard with fingernails makes a horrible noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingernail:x8:1
# text = Scratching a blackboard with fingernails makes a horrible noise.
1	Scratching	scratch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	blackboard	blackboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	horrible	horrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scratch** | gerund |  | a blackboard |  |  |  | with fingernails | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blackboard=Patient with fingernail=Instrument |
| 2 | **make** | present | Scratching | a horrible noise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |

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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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