---
title: knife — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «knife» in the school dictionary: A knife is a tool with a sharp blade and a handle, used for cutting. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# knife

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** knife, you, point, butter knife, score, He · **What happens:** be, use, eat, mean, attack, cut · **To what, where:** tool, Knives, table, knife, dinner, bread

<!-- .vabout -->
«knife» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [knife in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/knife.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A knife is a tool with a sharp blade and a handle, used for cutting.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:m1:1
# text = A knife is a tool with a sharp blade and a handle, used for cutting.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	cutting	cutting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a knife | a tool |  |  |  | with a sharp blade and a handle | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a tool *not said here* |  |  |  | for cutting | vn eat-39.1 «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 -->
Knives are used at the table for eating: knife and fork.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:m2:1
# text = Knives are used at the table for eating: knife and fork.
1	Knives	knife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	fork	fork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Knives |  | the table |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund |  | knife and fork |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knife=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To knife someone means to attack with a knife (rare, serious).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:m3:1
# text = To knife someone means to attack with a knife (rare, serious).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	appos	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | knife |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **attack** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | knife *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a knife | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a knife and fork to eat your dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x1:1
# text = Use a knife and fork to eat your dinner.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fork	fork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a knife and fork |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knife=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your dinner |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dinner=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut the bread with a bread knife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x2:1
# text = Cut the bread with a bread knife.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | the bread |  |  |  | with a bread knife | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bread=Patient with knife=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always cut away from your fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x3:1
# text = Always cut away from your fingers.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | your fingers |  | always, away *property* | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from finger=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Carry a knife with the point facing down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x4:1
# text = Carry a knife with the point facing down.
1	Carry	carry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	facing	face	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | imperative | you *not said here* | a knife |  |  |  | with the point | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knife=Theme |
| 2 | **face down** | gerund | the point *not said here* |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't try to catch a falling knife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x5:1
# text = Don't try to catch a falling knife.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	amod	_	_
8	knife	knife	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 | **not** **try** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **catch** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a falling knife |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knife=Theme |
| 3 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put the knives in the drawer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x6:1
# text = Put the knives in the drawer.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	knives	knife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	drawer	drawer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | the knives |  | the drawer |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent knife=Theme in drawer=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butter knife is not sharp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x7:1
# text = The butter knife is not sharp.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | the butter knife |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The score was on a knife edge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x8:1
# text = The score was on a knife edge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	edge	edge	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** | past | the score |  |  | a knife edge |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He took his knife and cut it open.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knife:x9:1
# text = He took his knife and cut it open.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | He | his knife |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knife=Theme |
| 2 | **cut** | past | He *not said here* | knife |  |  |  | open *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

<!-- 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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