---
title: snatch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «snatch» in the school dictionary: To grab something quickly and roughly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# snatch

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, He, thief, seagull, She, We · **What happens:** grab, steal, take, have, hear, snatch · **To what, where:** something, it, chance, ball, bag, sleep

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To grab something quickly and roughly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m1:1
# text = To grab something quickly and roughly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	grab	grab	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	roughly	roughly	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grab** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"He snatched the ball from me."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m1e:1
# text = "He snatched the ball from me."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snatched	snatch	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	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** *in a quote* | past | He | the ball |  |  |  | from me | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent ball=Theme from i=Source |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To steal something by grabbing it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m2:1
# text = To steal something by grabbing it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	steal	steal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	grabbing	grab	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location something=Theme |
| 2 | **grab** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"A thief snatched her bag."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m2e:1
# text = "A thief snatched her bag."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** *in a quote* | past | a thief | thief's bag |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take something quickly when you have the chance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m3:1
# text = To take something quickly when you have the chance.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | the chance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chance=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"snatch some sleep".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m3e:1
# text = "snatch some sleep".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	snatch	snatch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | some sleep |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sleep=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a noun, a small part of something you hear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m4:1
# text = As a noun, a small part of something you hear.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hear	hear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a snatch of a song".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:m4e:1
# text = "a snatch of a song".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	snatch	snatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** *in a quote* |  |  | a song |  |  |  |  | nom snatch «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not snatch; ask nicely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x1:1
# text = Do not snatch; ask nicely.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	snatch	snatch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	nicely	nicely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **snatch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | nicely *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The seagull snatched my chips!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x2:1
# text = The seagull snatched my chips!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	seagull	seagull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	chips	chip	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 | **snatch** | past | the seagull | my chips |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chip=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thief snatched a phone from the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x3:1
# text = A thief snatched a phone from the table.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** | past | a thief | a phone |  | the table |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent phone=Theme from table=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She snatched up her coat and ran out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x4:1
# text = She snatched up her coat and ran out.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch up** | past | She | her coat |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |
| 2 | **run out** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We snatched a quick lunch between games.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x5:1
# text = We snatched a quick lunch between games.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** | past | We | a quick lunch |  |  |  | between games | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lunch=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard a snatch of music through the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x6:1
# text = I heard a snatch of music through the window.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	snatch	snatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | a snatch of music |  | the window |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer snatch=Stimulus |
| 2 | **snatch** |  |  | music |  |  |  |  | nom snatch «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper snatched the ball out of the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x7:1
# text = The goalkeeper snatched the ball out of the air.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snatched	snatch	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	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** | past | the goalkeeper | the ball |  | the air |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent ball=Theme out air=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They snatched spears and shields from their foes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snatch:x8:1
# text = They snatched spears and shields from their foes.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spears	spear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shields	shield	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	foes	foe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** | past | They | spears and shields |  | shields's foes |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent spear=Theme from foe=Source |

<!-- 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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