---
title: jerk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «jerk» in the school dictionary: To move or pull suddenly and roughly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# jerk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** car, Dad, She, train, fish, He · **What happens:** move, pull, jerk, let, go, stop · **To what, where:** hand, jerk, line, him, knee, one corner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«jerk» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [jerk in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jerk.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move or pull suddenly and roughly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:m1:1
# text = To move or pull suddenly and roughly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	roughly	roughly	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pull** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quick, sudden movement or pull.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:m2:1
# text = A quick, sudden movement or pull.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pull	pull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mean or stupid person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:m3:1
# text = A mean or stupid person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car jerked forward when Dad let go of the brake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x1:1
# text = The car jerked forward when Dad let go of the brake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	jerked	jerk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	brake	brake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jerk** | past | the car |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **let** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of the brake | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme of brake=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She jerked her hand away from the hot pan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x2:1
# text = She jerked her hand away from the hot pan.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	jerked	jerk	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	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pan	pan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jerk** | past | She | her hand |  |  |  | away *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The train stopped with a jerk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x3:1
# text = The train stopped with a jerk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	jerk	jerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the train |  |  |  |  | with a jerk | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with jerk=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish gave a jerk on the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x4:1
# text = The fish gave a jerk on the line.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	jerk	jerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	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 | **give** | past | the fish | a jerk |  | the line |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent jerk=Theme on line=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He woke up with a jerk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x5:1
# text = He woke up with a jerk.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	woke	wake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	jerk	jerk	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 | **wake up** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with a jerk | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with jerk=Instrument |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was rude to call him a jerk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x6:1
# text = It was rude to call him a jerk.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	jerk	jerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | to-infinitive |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme jerk=Result |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor tapped my knee and my leg jerked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x7:1
# text = The doctor tapped my knee and my leg jerked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tapped	tap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	jerked	jerk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tap** | past | the doctor | my knee |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent knee=Location |
| 2 | **jerk** | participle | my leg |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seizing one corner of the half-worn blanket, Iktomi pulled it off with a jerk.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jerk:x8:1
# text = Seizing one corner of the half-worn blanket, Iktomi pulled it off with a jerk.
1	Seizing	seize	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	worn	worn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	blanket	blanket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
11	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	off	off	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	jerk	jerk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seize** | gerund | Iktomi *not said here* | one corner of the worn blanket |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent corner=Theme |
| 2 | **pull off** | past | Iktomi | corner |  |  |  | with a jerk | vn complete-55.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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