---
title: sniff — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sniff» in the school dictionary: To sniff means to breathe in quickly through your nose, so that you make a small sound. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sniff/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / sniff

# sniff

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, sniff, sound, dog, She, He · **What happens:** sniff, mean, breathe in, make, smell, breathe · **To what, where:** nose, small sound, something, it, cold, act · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sniff means to breathe in quickly through your nose, so that you make a small sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:m1:1
# text = To sniff means to breathe in quickly through your nose, so that you make a small sound.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	15	mark	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **breathe in** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | your nose |  | quickly *property* | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | present | you | a small sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sniff something means to smell it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:m2:1
# text = To sniff something means to smell it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	smell	smell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **smell** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sniff can mean to breathe in noisily when you have a cold or are crying.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:m3:1
# text = To sniff can mean to breathe in noisily when you have a cold or are crying.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	noisily	noisily	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	obl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **breathe** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **have** | present | you | a cold |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cold=Patient |
| 5 | **cry** *speech: express* | present · progressive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sniff is the act or sound of sniffing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:m4:1
# text = A sniff is the act or sound of sniffing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sniff	sniff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	sniffing	sniff	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sniff | the act or sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sniff** | gerund | sound *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog sniffed my shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x1:1
# text = The dog sniffed my shoes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sniffed	sniff	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	shoes	shoe	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 | **sniff** | past | the dog | my shoes |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop sniffing and blow your nose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x2:1
# text = Stop sniffing and blow your nose.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sniffing	sniff	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	blow	blow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sniff** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **blow** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your nose |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent nose=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sniffed the flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x3:1
# text = She sniffed the flowers.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sniffed	sniff	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	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | past | She | the flowers |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let the dog sniff your hand first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x4:1
# text = Let the dog sniff your hand first.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sniff** | infinitive | the dog *not said here* | your hand |  |  |  | first *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never sniff chemicals or glue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x5:1
# text = Never sniff chemicals or glue.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	sniff	sniff	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sniff** | imperative | you *not said here* | chemicals or glue |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chemical=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave a sad little sniff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x6:1
# text = He gave a sad little sniff.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sniff	sniff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a sad little sniff |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sniff=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox sniffed the air for danger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x7:1
# text = The fox sniffed the air for danger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sniffed	sniff	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	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sniff** | past | the fox | the air |  |  |  | for danger | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She raised it to her nose and sniffed at it again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sniff:x8:1
# text = She raised it to her nose and sniffed at it again and again.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	raised	raise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	sniffed	sniff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	again	again	ADV	RB	_	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | past | She | it |  | her nose |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme to nose=Destination |
| 2 | **sniff** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  | again | at nose | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at it=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [sneeze](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneeze/)
- next →: [sniffle](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sniffle/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)