---
title: pliers — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pliers» in the school dictionary: A hand tool with two handles and two jaws, used for gripping, bending, twisting or cutting wire. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pliers

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, I, Dad, Pliers, electrician, nose pliers · **What happens:** use, twist, cut, pass, bend, pull out · **To what, where:** hand tool, wire, pliers, me, pair, nail

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hand tool with two handles and two jaws, used for gripping, bending, twisting or cutting wire.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:m1:1
# text = A hand tool with two handles and two jaws, used for gripping, bending, twisting or cutting wire.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	handles	handle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	gripping	gripping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	bending	bending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	twisting	twist	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	conj	_	_
20	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a hand tool with two handles and two jaws *not said here* |  |  |  | for gripping and bending | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **twist** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **cut** | gerund |  | wire |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wire=Product |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the pliers so I can bend this wire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x1:1
# text = Pass me the pliers so I can bend this wire.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	bend	bend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the pliers | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient plier=Theme |
| 2 | **bend** | can | I | this wire |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent wire=Material |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad used a pair of pliers to pull out the nail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x2:1
# text = Dad used a pair of pliers to pull out the nail.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	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	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	pull	pull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Dad | a pair of pliers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pair=Patient |
| 2 | **pull out** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the nail |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pliers are a kind of lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x3:1
# text = Pliers are a kind of lever.
1	Pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pliers | a kind |  |  |  | of lever | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The electrician cut the cable with pliers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x4:1
# text = The electrician cut the cable with pliers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	electrician	electrician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cable	cable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | the electrician | the cable |  |  |  | with pliers | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cable=Patient with plier=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long-nose pliers can reach into small spaces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x5:1
# text = Long-nose pliers can reach into small spaces.
1	Long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	spaces	space	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | can | nose pliers |  |  | small spaces |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent into space=Path |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used pliers to make jewellery from wire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pliers:x6:1
# text = We used pliers to make jewellery from wire.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pliers	plier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	jewellery	jewellery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | pliers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plier=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | jewellery |  | wire |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset jewellery=Product from wire=Material |

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**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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