---
title: twig — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «twig» in the school dictionary: A small, thin branch of a tree or bush. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# twig

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bird, twig, We, stick insect, It, she · **What happens:** understand, realise, go on, build, snap, collect · **To what, where:** something, nest, twigs, foot, dry twigs, campfire · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«twig» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [twig in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twig.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, thin branch of a tree or bush.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:m1:1
# text = A small, thin branch of a tree or bush.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, informal verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To suddenly understand something or realise what is going on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:m2:1
# text = To suddenly understand something or realise what is going on.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	realise	realise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	ccomp	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **realise** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go on** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird built its nest from twigs and moss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x1:1
# text = The bird built its nest from twigs and moss.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	moss	moss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the bird | bird's nest |  | twigs and moss |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent nest=Product from twig=Material |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A twig snapped under his foot in the dark wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x2:1
# text = A twig snapped under his foot in the dark wood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	twig	twig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	snapped	snap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snap** | past | a twig |  |  | twig's foot |  | in the dark wood | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under foot=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We collected dry twigs to start the campfire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x3:1
# text = We collected dry twigs to start the campfire.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	campfire	campfire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | We | dry twigs |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent twig=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the campfire |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent campfire=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stick insect looked just like a twig.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x4:1
# text = The stick insect looked just like a twig.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	twig	twig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the stick insect | a twig |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme twig=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took me ages to twig that she was joking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x5:1
# text = It took me ages to twig that she was joking.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	ages	age	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	twig	twig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It | ages | me |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument i=Theme age=Destination |
| 2 | **twig** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **joke** *speech: other* | past · progressive | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Did you twig who sent the card?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x6:1
# text = Did you twig who sent the card?
1	Did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	twig	twig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **twig** | past · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **send** | past |  | the card |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count the twigs: there are 4 on each branch and 3 branches, so 12 twigs.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x7:1
# text = Count the twigs: there are 4 on each branch and 3 branches, so 12 twigs.
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	6	expl	_	_
6	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nsubj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	twigs	twig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | imperative | you *not said here* | the twigs |  |  |  | 12 twigs *obl* | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent twig=Theme |
| 2 | **be** | present | 4 on each branch and 3 branches |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From every twig glistened a white radiance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:twig:x8:1
# text = From every twig glistened a white radiance.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	twig	twig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
4	glistened	glisten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	radiance	radiance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glisten** | participle |  | a white radiance |  | every twig |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent radiance=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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