---
title: paperclip — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «paperclip» in the school dictionary: A small piece of bent wire used to hold sheets of paper together. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# paperclip

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small clip symbol, you, magnet, pencil, She, We · **What happens:** use, hold, mean, attach, put, pick up · **To what, where:** small piece, sheets, file, email, paperclip, homework sheets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«paperclip» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [paperclip in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paperclip.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small piece of bent wire used to hold sheets of paper together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:m1:1
# text = A small piece of bent wire used to hold sheets of paper together.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	sheets	sheet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	together	together	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a small piece of bent wire *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hold** | to-infinitive |  | sheets of paper |  |  |  | together *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sheet=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: computers — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The small clip symbol that means "attach a file", for example in an email.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:m2:1
# text = The small clip symbol that means "attach a file", for example in an email.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	clip	clip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	attach	attach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	file	file	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the small clip symbol |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **attach** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a file |  | a email |  | for example | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent file=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put a paperclip on your homework sheets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x1:1
# text = Put a paperclip on your homework sheets.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	paperclip	paperclip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sheets	sheet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | a paperclip |  | your homework sheets |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent paperclip=Theme on sheet=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magnet picked up ten paperclips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x2:1
# text = The magnet picked up ten paperclips.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magnet	magnet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	picked	pick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	paperclips	paperclip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick up** | participle | the magnet *not said here* | ten paperclips |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paperclip=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My pencil is five paperclips long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x3:1
# text = My pencil is five paperclips long.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	paperclips	paperclip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	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 | **is** | present | My pencil |  |  |  |  | five paperclips *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She bent a paperclip into a heart shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x4:1
# text = She bent a paperclip into a heart shape.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bent	bend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	paperclip	paperclip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | past | She | a paperclip |  | a heart shape |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent paperclip=Material into shape=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Click the paperclip to attach a photo to the email.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x5:1
# text = Click the paperclip to attach a photo to the email.
1	Click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	paperclip	paperclip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	attach	attach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **click** | imperative | you *not said here* | the paperclip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **attach** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a photo |  |  |  | to the email | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent photo=Patient to email=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a switch for our circuit with a paperclip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paperclip:x6:1
# text = We made a switch for our circuit with a paperclip.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	switch	switch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	circuit	circuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	paperclip	paperclip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a switch |  |  |  | for our circuit with a paperclip | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent switch=Product for circuit=Asset |

<!-- 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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