---
title: jiffy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «jiffy» in the school dictionary: A jiffy is a very short time, a moment. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# jiffy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** jiffy, Jiffy bag, padded envelope, I, Dinner, Mum · **What happens:** be, pad, post, need, find, go · **To what, where:** short time, padded envelope, things, jiffy, shoes, cake

<!-- .vabout -->
«jiffy» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [jiffy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jiffy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jiffy is a very short time, a moment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:m1:1
# text = A jiffy is a very short time, a moment.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jiffy	jiffy	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	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Jiffy bag is a padded envelope for posting things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:m2:1
# text = A Jiffy bag is a padded envelope for posting things.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Jiffy	Jiffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	padded	pad	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	envelope	envelope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	posting	post	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pad** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a Jiffy bag | a padded envelope |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **post** | gerund | a padded envelope *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'll be with you in a jiffy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x1:1
# text = I'll be with you in a jiffy.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | I |  |  | a jiffy |  | with you | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinner will be ready in a jiffy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x2:1
# text = Dinner will be ready in a jiffy.
1	Dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | Dinner |  |  | a jiffy |  | ready *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just a jiffy — I need to find my shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x3:1
# text = Just a jiffy — I need to find my shoes.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | I | a jiffy *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a jiffy *not said here* | my shoes |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cake was gone in a jiffy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x4:1
# text = The cake was gone in a jiffy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past · passive |  | the cake |  | a jiffy |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum posted the book in a Jiffy bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x5:1
# text = Mum posted the book in a Jiffy bag.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	posted	post	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	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Jiffy	Jiffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **post** | past | Mum | the book |  | a Jiffy bag |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy was out of the door in a jiffy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x6:1
# text = The puppy was out of the door in a jiffy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the puppy |  |  | the door |  | in a jiffy | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a jiffy he pounced upon it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:jiffy:x7:1
# text = In a jiffy he pounced upon it.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	jiffy	jiffy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pounced	pounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pounce** | past | he |  |  | a jiffy |  | upon jiffy | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in jiffy=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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