---
title: jabbing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «jabbing» in the school dictionary: Poking or pushing something sharp or pointed quickly and hard: «He kept jabbing me with his pencil.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# jabbing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, jab, you, boxer, I, my · **What happens:** poke, push, point, keep, jab, throw · **To what, where:** something, me, quick short straight punches, injection, sharp unkind remarks, someone

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poking or pushing something sharp or pointed quickly and hard: «He kept jabbing me with his pencil.».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:m1:1
# text = Poking or pushing something sharp or pointed quickly and hard: «He kept jabbing me with his pencil.».
1	Poking	poke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	pushing	push	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
8	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	xcomp	_	_
16	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **poke** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **push** | gerund | He *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **point** | participle | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **keep** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **jab** *in a quote* | gerund | He *not said here* | me |  |  |  | with his pencil | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent i=Patient with pencil=Instrument |

<!-- .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: boxing — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Throwing quick, short straight punches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:m2:1
# text = Throwing quick, short straight punches.
1	Throwing	throw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	punches	punch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | gerund |  | quick short straight punches |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent punch=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jab is an injection or vaccination: «the flu jab».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:m3:1
# text = A jab is an injection or vaccination: «the flu jab».
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	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	vaccination	vaccination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	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 or vaccination |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making sharp, unkind remarks at someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:m4:1
# text = Making sharp, unkind remarks at someone.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	remarks	remark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | sharp unkind remarks |  | someone |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset remark=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop jabbing me with your elbow!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x1:1
# text = Stop jabbing me with your elbow!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	elbow	elbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **jab** | gerund | you *not said here* | me |  |  |  | with your elbow | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent i=Patient with elbow=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was jabbing at the buttons on the remote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x2:1
# text = He was jabbing at the buttons on the remote.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	buttons	button	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	remote	remote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boxer kept jabbing with his left hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x3:1
# text = The boxer kept jabbing with his left hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boxer	boxer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	left	left	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the boxer |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **jab** | gerund | the boxer *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with boxer's left hand | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V PP PP»: agent=Agent with hand=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had my flu jab at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x4:1
# text = I had my flu jab at school.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	jab	jab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	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 | **have** | past | I | my flu jab |  | school |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jab=Patient |
| 2 | **jab** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom jab «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was jabbing her finger at the map.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x5:1
# text = She was jabbing her finger at the map.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jab** | past · progressive | She | her finger |  |  |  | at the map | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.instrument PP.theme»: agent=Agent finger=Instrument at map=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Rat was jabbing the river bank with a stick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jabbing:x6:1
# text = The Rat was jabbing the river bank with a stick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	jabbing	jab	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jab** | past · progressive | the Rat | the river bank |  |  |  | with a stick | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent bank=Patient with stick=Instrument |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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