---
title: wag — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wag» in the school dictionary: To move quickly from side to side or up and down, especially a dog's tail. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wag

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Wag, puppy, I, wagging tail, Grandma · **What happens:** move, shake, show, disagree, mean, skip · **To what, where:** side, finger, someone, school, tail, happy dog · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move quickly from side to side or up and down, especially a dog's tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:m1:1
# text = To move quickly from side to side or up and down, especially a dog's tail.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	up	up	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	down	down	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	_
17	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | side |  | quickly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme from side=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 shake a finger at someone to show you disagree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:m2:1
# text = To shake a finger at someone to show you disagree.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shake	shake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | to-infinitive |  | a finger |  | someone |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent finger=Theme at someone=Trajectory |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **disagree** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Wag" or "wag school" means skip school without permission (Australian and New Zealand slang).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:m3:1
# text = "Wag" or "wag school" means skip school without permission (Australian and New Zealand slang).
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wag	wag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	wag	wag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	skip	skip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	without	without	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	appos	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	flat	_	_
18	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Wag or wag school |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **skip** | infinitive |  | school |  |  |  | without permission | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy wagged its tail when I came home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x1:1
# text = The puppy wagged its tail when I came home.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wagged	wag	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	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	home	home	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | past | the puppy | puppy's tail |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | past | I |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x2:1
# text = A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wagging	wag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **mean** | present · do-support | a wagging tail | a happy dog |  |  |  | always *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma wagged her finger at me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x3:1
# text = Grandma wagged her finger at me.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wagged	wag	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | past | Grandma | Grandma's finger |  |  |  | at me | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent finger=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tongues will wag if you do that.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x4:1
# text = Tongues will wag if you do that.
1	Tongues	tongue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	wag	wag	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | future | Tongues |  |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | that |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog's whole body wagged with joy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x5:1
# text = The dog's whole body wagged with joy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wagged	wag	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	joy	joy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | past | the dog's whole body |  |  |  |  | with joy | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always ask before you pat a dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wag:x6:1
# text = Always ask before you pat a dog.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pat	pat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | always *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **pat** | present | you | a dog |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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