---
title: flexion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flexion» in the school dictionary: Flexion is bending a joint so that the angle between the bones gets smaller, like bending your elbow or knee. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flexion/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/) / flexion

# flexion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Flexion, angle, grammar, Bending, he, his · **What happens:** bend, get, mean, change, show, call · **To what, where:** joint, elbow, ending, grammar, inflection, word · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«flexion» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [flexion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flexion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flexion is bending a joint so that the angle between the bones gets smaller, like bending your elbow or knee.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:m1:1
# text = Flexion is bending a joint so that the angle between the bones gets smaller, like bending your elbow or knee.
1	Flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	bending	bend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joint	joint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	13	mark	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	angle	angle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	between	between	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	bending	bend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
18	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	elbow	elbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | present · progressive | Flexion | a joint |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent joint=Material |
| 2 | **get** | present | the angle between the bones |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **bend** | gerund | the angle between the bones *not said here* | your elbow or knee |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent elbow=Material |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flexion can mean changing the ending of a word to show its grammar (more often called inflection).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:m2:1
# text = Flexion can mean changing the ending of a word to show its grammar (more often called inflection).
1	Flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
18	inflection	inflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Flexion |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** *not said to happen* | gerund | Flexion *not said here* | the ending of a word |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ending=Patient |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive | Flexion *not said here* | Flexion's grammar |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent grammar=Recipient |
| 4 | **call** | participle | Flexion's grammar *not said here* | inflection |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **end** |  |  | a word |  |  |  |  | nom ending «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bending your elbow is flexion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x1:1
# text = Bending your elbow is flexion.
1	Bending	bend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	elbow	elbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | gerund |  | your elbow |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent elbow=Material |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Bending | flexion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flexion and extension work like a hinge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x2:1
# text = Flexion and extension work like a hinge.
1	Flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	extension	extension	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hinge	hinge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After his injury, he could only manage a little knee flexion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x3:1
# text = After his injury, he could only manage a little knee flexion.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	manage	manage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **manage** | could | he | a little knee flexion |  |  | after his injury |  | vn caring-75.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flexion=Theme |
| 2 | **injure** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom injury «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The biceps muscle causes flexion of the arm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x4:1
# text = The biceps muscle causes flexion of the arm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	biceps	biceps	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | the biceps muscle | flexion of the arm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition flexion=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stretches improve flexion of the hips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x5:1
# text = Stretches improve flexion of the hips.
1	Stretches	stretch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	improve	improve	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hips	hip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improve** | present | Stretches | flexion of the hips |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent flexion=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The physio measured the flexion of her ankle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flexion:x6:1
# text = The physio measured the flexion of her ankle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	physio	physio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	measured	measure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flexion	flexion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
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	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | past | the physio | the flexion of physio's ankle |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme flexion=Value |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [flexible](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flexible/)
- next →: [flick](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flick/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)