---
title: jab — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «jab» in the school dictionary: To jab is to push something pointed quickly and hard into or at something, like a finger or stick. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# jab

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** jab, her, He, We, flu, nurse · **What happens:** jab, be, point, spell, have, say · **To what, where:** quick hard poke, injection, short unkind remark, me, little, button · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«jab» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [jab in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jab.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To jab is to push something pointed quickly and hard into or at something, like a finger or stick.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m1:1
# text = To jab is to push something pointed quickly and hard into or at something, like a finger or stick.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	jab	jab	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	push	push	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
11	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jab** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | like a finger or stick; push *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 jab is a quick, hard poke or punch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m2:1
# text = A jab is a quick, hard poke or punch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	poke	poke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	punch	punch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a jab | a quick hard poke or punch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jab is an injection, like a vaccine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m3:1
# text = A jab is an injection, like a vaccine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	injection	injection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	vaccine	vaccine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a jab | a injection and a vaccine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the flu jab".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m3e:1
# text = "the flu jab".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jab is a short unkind remark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m4:1
# text = A jab is a short unkind remark.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a jab | a short unkind remark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a jab at her spelling".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:m4e:1
# text = "a jab at her spelling".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spell** *in a quote* |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom spelling «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He jabbed me with his elbow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x1:1
# text = He jabbed me with his elbow.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	jabbed	jab	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	elbow	elbow	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 | **jab** | past | He | me |  |  |  | with his elbow | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent i=Patient with elbow=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had our flu jabs at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x2:1
# text = We had our flu jabs at school.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	jabs	jab	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **jab** | present | our flu |  |  |  |  | at school | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent at school=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse said the jab would only sting a little.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x3:1
# text = The nurse said the jab would only sting a little.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	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	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	sting	sting	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the nurse |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **sting** | would | the jab | a little |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She jabbed the button on the lift.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x4:1
# text = She jabbed the button on the lift.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	jabbed	jab	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	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jab** | past | She | the button |  |  |  | on the lift | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent button=Instrument on lift=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boxer threw a quick jab.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x5:1
# text = The boxer threw a quick jab.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boxer	boxer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | the boxer | a quick jab |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jab=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't jab your pencil at people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x6:1
# text = Don't jab your pencil at people.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	jab	jab	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **jab** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your pencil |  |  |  | at people | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His joke was a jab at my messy hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x7:1
# text = His joke was a jab at my messy hair.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | His joke | a jab |  | my messy hair |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **joke** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All 28 children had the jab, in two groups of 14.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jab:x8:1
# text = All 28 children had the jab, in two groups of 14.
1	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	28	28	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	parataxis	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	14	14	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | all 28 children | the jab |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jab=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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