---
title: nail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nail» in the school dictionary: A nail is a thin, pointed piece of metal you hit with a hammer to join pieces of wood. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nail, you, fingernails, something, She, box · **What happens:** point, be, hit, join, nail, have · **To what, where:** thin pointed piece, pieces, nails, test, 100 nails, 4 nails · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nail is a thin, pointed piece of metal you hit with a hammer to join pieces of wood.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:m1:1
# text = A nail is a thin, pointed piece of metal you hit with a hammer to join pieces of wood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nail	nail	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	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	hit	hit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
18	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a nail | a thin pointed piece |  |  |  | of metal | tree rules |
| 3 | **hit** | present | you | a thin pointed piece *not said here* |  |  |  | with a hammer | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent piece=Patient with hammer=Instrument |
| 4 | **join** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | pieces of wood |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Your fingernails and toenails are nails too: the hard parts at the ends of your fingers and toes.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:m2:1
# text = Your fingernails and toenails are nails too: the hard parts at the ends of your fingers and toes.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	fingernails	fingernail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	toenails	toenail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ends	end	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	toes	toe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Your fingernails and toenails | nails and the hard parts at the ends of your fingers and toes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To nail is to fix something with nails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:m3:1
# text = To nail is to fix something with nails.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
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	fix	fix	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with nails; fix *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To nail something (informal) is to do it perfectly: «She nailed the test.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:m4:1
# text = To nail something (informal) is to do it perfectly: «She nailed the test.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	perfectly	perfectly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	nailed	nail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | do, perfectly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **nail** *in a quote* | past | She | the test |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A box has 100 nails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x1:1
# text = A box has 100 nails.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a box | 100 nails |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nail=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He uses 4 nails for each board.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x2:1
# text = He uses 4 nails for each board.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	board	board	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 | **use** | present | He | 4 nails |  |  |  | for each board | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent nail=Theme for board=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She painted her 10 nails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x3:1
# text = She painted her 10 nails.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	painted	paint	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	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | She | her 10 nails |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent nail=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many nails are left after he used 35?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x4:1
# text = How many nails are left after he used 35?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	35	35	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present · passive |  | many nails |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | past | he | 35 |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 35=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad nailed the sign to the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x5:1
# text = Dad nailed the sign to the fence.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nailed	nail	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	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fence	fence	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 | **nail** | past | Dad | the sign |  |  |  | to the fence | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent sign=Patient to fence=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut your nails and wash your hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x6:1
# text = Cut your nails and wash your hands.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	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* | your nails |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset nail=Product |
| 2 | **wash** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You hit the nail on the head with that answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x7:1
# text = You hit the nail on the head with that answer.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nail	nail	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	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | You | the nail |  | the head |  | with that answer | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent nail=Patient with answer=Instrument |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He nailed his dance at the show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nail:x8:1
# text = He nailed his dance at the show.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nailed	nail	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	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	show	show	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 | **nail** | past | He | his dance |  | the show |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dance=Patient |
| 2 | **dance** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom dance «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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