---
title: spank — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spank» in the school dictionary: To hit someone, usually a child, on the bottom with an open hand as a punishment. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spank

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rude word, It, name, daddy, Taffy, horses · **What happens:** hit, grow, use, spank, be, smack · **To what, where:** someone, naughty children, old stories, children, Wales, name · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spank» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [spank in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spank.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To hit someone, usually a child, on the bottom with an open hand as a punishment.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:m1:1
# text = To hit someone, usually a child, on the bottom with an open hand as a punishment.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | with a open hand; as a punishment; on the bottom | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent someone=Instrument on bottom=Patient |

<!-- .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: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A slap on the bottom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:m2:1
# text = A slap on the bottom.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	slap	slap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude, adult slang — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
a rude word grown-ups use; not for school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:m3:1
# text = a rude word grown-ups use; not for school.
1	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	ups	up	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | present | a rude word |  |  |  |  | for school | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old stories, naughty children were often spanked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x1:1
# text = In old stories, naughty children were often spanked.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	spanked	spank	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spank** | past · passive |  | naughty children |  | old stories |  | often *property* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient in story=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is now against the law to smack or spank children in Wales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x2:1
# text = It is now against the law to smack or spank children in Wales.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	smack	smack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	spank	spank	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  | now | against the law | tree rules |
| 2 | **smack** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **spank** | infinitive |  | children |  | Wales |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent child=Patient in wales=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taffy's name says she ought to be spanked, but her daddy loved her.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x3:1
# text = Taffy's name says she ought to be spanked, but her daddy loved her.
1	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
6	ought	ought	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	spanked	spank	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	daddy	daddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
15	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Taffy's name |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spank** | ought · passive |  | name |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **love** | past | name's daddy | name |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |
| 4 | **name** |  | Taffy |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horses trotted along at a spanking pace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x4:1
# text = The horses trotted along at a spanking pace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	trotted	trot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	along	along	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	spanking	spanking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pace	pace	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 | **trot** | past | the horses |  |  |  |  | at a spanking pace; along *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at pace=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He rode a spanking new bicycle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x5:1
# text = He rode a spanking new bicycle.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rode	ride	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	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bicycle	bicycle	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 | **ride** | past | He | a spanking new bicycle |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent bicycle=Location |
| 2 | **spank** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If an adult hurts you, tell a teacher you trust.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spank:x6:1
# text = If an adult hurts you, tell a teacher you trust.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	trust	trust	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 | **hurt** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a adult | you |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 3 | **trust** | present | you | a teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teacher=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 -->

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