---
title: shears — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shears» in the school dictionary: Shears are a large cutting tool like big, strong scissors, used for cutting hedges, grass, metal or sheep's wool. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shears

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Shears, farmer, verb, Dad, you, pair · **What happens:** be, use, shear, mean, cut off, trim · **To what, where:** large cutting tool, verb, sheep, wool, hedge, shears · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shears are a large cutting tool like big, strong scissors, used for cutting hedges, grass, metal or sheep's wool.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:m1:1
# text = Shears are a large cutting tool like big, strong scissors, used for cutting hedges, grass, metal or sheep's wool.
1	Shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	cutting	cutting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	cutting	cutting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	hedges	hedge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	's	's	PART	POS	_	22	case	_	_
24	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shears | a large cutting tool |  |  |  | like big strong scissors | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a large cutting tool *not said here* |  |  |  | for cutting hedges and grass and metal and sheep's wool | 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 -->
«Shears» is also the verb: «the farmer shears the sheep» means he cuts off their wool.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:m2:1
# text = «Shears» is also the verb: «the farmer shears the sheep» means he cuts off their wool.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	shears	shear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
16	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	cuts	cut	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	ccomp	_	_
19	off	off	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
20	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shears | the verb |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shear** *in a quote* | present | the farmer | the sheep |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent sheep=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **mean** | present | the verb |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **cut off** | present | farmer | Shears's wool |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector wool=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad trimmed the hedge with shears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x1:1
# text = Dad trimmed the hedge with shears.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	trimmed	trim	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	hedge	hedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	shears	shear	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 | **trim** | past | Dad | the hedge |  |  |  | with shears | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent hedge=Destination with shear=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shears are like giant scissors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x2:1
# text = Shears are like giant scissors.
1	Shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Shears |  |  |  |  | like giant scissors | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer shears the sheep every spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x3:1
# text = The farmer shears the sheep every spring.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shears	shear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | present | the farmer | the sheep |  |  | spring |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent sheep=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hand me the shears, please — carefully!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x4:1
# text = Hand me the shears, please — carefully!
1	Hand	hand	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	shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	1	discourse	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | imperative | you *not said here* | the shears | me |  |  | carefully *property* | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Destination shear=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pair of shears is on the shed wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x5:1
# text = A pair of shears is on the shed wall.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a pair of shears |  |  | the shed wall |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sheep shearers in New Zealand can shear hundreds of sheep in a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shears:x6:1
# text = Sheep shearers in New Zealand can shear hundreds of sheep in a day.
1	Sheep	sheep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	shearers	shearer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	_
5	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	shear	shear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | can | Sheep shearers in New Zealand | hundreds of sheep |  |  | day |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent hundred=Initial\_Location |

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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.

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