---
title: tool — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tool» in the school dictionary: A tool is an object you hold and use to do a job, like a hammer, saw, screwdriver or spade. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tool

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tool, you, object, Dad, hammer, Chimpanzees · **What happens:** be, hold, use, do, see, help · **To what, where:** object, job, anything, you, something, silly person

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tool is an object you hold and use to do a job, like a hammer, saw, screwdriver or spade.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:m1:1
# text = A tool is an object you hold and use to do a job, like a hammer, saw, screwdriver or spade.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	screwdriver	screwdriver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	spade	spade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tool | a object |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | you | a object *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent object=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a job |  |  |  | like a hammer | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 5 | **see** | past | a object *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
A tool is anything that helps you do something, like a computer program or a method.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:m2:1
# text = A tool is anything that helps you do something, like a computer program or a method.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	program	program	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tool | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tool (insult, informal) is a silly or unpleasant person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:m3:1
# text = A tool (insult, informal) is a silly or unpleasant person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad keeps his tools in a tool box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x1:1
# text = Dad keeps his tools in a tool box.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|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	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Dad | Dad's tools |  | a tool box |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent tool=Theme in box=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hammer is a tool for hitting nails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x2:1
# text = A hammer is a tool for hitting nails.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	nails	nail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hammer | a tool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hit** | gerund | a tool *not said here* | nails |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme nail=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the right tool for the job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x3:1
# text = Use the right tool for the job.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the right tool |  |  |  | for the job | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent tool=Theme for job=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chimpanzees use sticks as tools to catch termites.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x4:1
# text = Chimpanzees use sticks as tools to catch termites.
1	Chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	termites	termite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Chimpanzees | sticks |  |  |  | as tools | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent stick=Duration as tool=Attribute |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | Chimpanzees *not said here* | termites |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent termite=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A protractor is a tool for measuring angles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x5:1
# text = A protractor is a tool for measuring angles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	protractor	protractor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	measuring	measuring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	angles	angle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a protractor | a tool |  |  |  | for measuring angles | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Power tools are only for adults.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x6:1
# text = Power tools are only for adults.
1	Power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Power tools |  |  |  |  | for adults | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading is a tool for learning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x7:1
# text = Reading is a tool for learning.
1	Reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	learning	learning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then the second miller's man laid aside his tool and looked up,

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tool:x8:1
# text = Then the second miller's man laid aside his tool and looked up,
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
4	miller	miller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	laid	lay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	aside	aside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | past | the second miller's man |  |  |  | then | aside man's tool | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look up** | past | the second miller's man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->
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