---
title: sprain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sprain» in the school dictionary: To sprain your ankle, wrist or knee is to hurt it by twisting it suddenly, so the joint swells and is painful. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sprain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** joint, sprain, I, She, you, He · **What happens:** sprain, be, twist, swell, play, have · **To what, where:** ankle, knee, injury, football, sprained wrist, ice · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sprain» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [sprain in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sprain.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sprain your ankle, wrist or knee is to hurt it by twisting it suddenly, so the joint swells and is painful.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:m1:1
# text = To sprain your ankle, wrist or knee is to hurt it by twisting it suddenly, so the joint swells and is painful.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sprain	sprain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	wrist	wrist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	twisting	twist	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	so	so	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	joint	joint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	swells	swell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
24	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprain** | to-infinitive |  | your ankle and wrist or knee |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hurt *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **twist** | gerund |  | knee |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **swell** | present | the joint |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 5 | **is** | present | the joint *not said here* |  |  |  |  | painful *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 sprain is this injury.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:m2:1
# text = A sprain is this injury.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sprain	sprain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I sprained my ankle playing football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x1:1
# text = I sprained my ankle playing football.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sprained	sprain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	playing	play	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sprain** | past | I | my ankle |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | I *not said here* | football |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent football=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has a sprained wrist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x2:1
# text = She has a sprained wrist.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sprained	sprain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	wrist	wrist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | a sprained wrist |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wrist=Patient |
| 2 | **sprain** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put ice on the sprain to stop the swelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x3:1
# text = Put ice on the sprain to stop the swelling.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sprain	sprain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	swelling	swelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | ice |  | the sprain |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent ice=Theme on sprain=Destination |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the swelling |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality swelling=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rest your foot until the sprain heals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x4:1
# text = Rest your foot until the sprain heals.
1	Rest	rest	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sprain	sprain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	heals	heal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rest** | imperative | you *not said here* | your foot |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location foot=Theme |
| 2 | **heal** | present | the sprain |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sprain hurts but it is not a broken bone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x5:1
# text = A sprain hurts but it is not a broken bone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sprain	sprain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | present | a sprain |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | present | sprain | a broken bone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sprained his knee jumping off the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x6:1
# text = He sprained his knee jumping off the wall.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sprained	sprain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wall	wall	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 | **sprain** | past | He | his knee |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer knee=Patient |
| 2 | **jump off** | gerund | He *not said here* | the wall |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme wall=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One morning, however, poor Thasus found that he had sprained his ankle, and could not possibly go a step farther.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sprain:x7:1
# text = One morning, however, poor Thasus found that he had sprained his ankle, and could not possibly go a step farther.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	however	however	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Thasus	Thasus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	sprained	sprain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
17	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	farther	far	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | poor Thasus |  |  |  | morning | however *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **sprain** | past · perfect | Thasus | Thasus's ankle |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **go** | could | poor Thasus *not said here* | a step |  |  |  | far, possibly *property* | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location step=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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