---
title: wrench — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wrench» in the school dictionary: A metal tool for gripping and turning nuts and bolts; in the UK it is usually called a spanner. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wrench

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** metal tool, you, leaving, I, He, She · **What happens:** grip, turn, call, pull, twist, wrench · **To what, where:** nuts, metal tool, UK, something, door, joint · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wrench» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [wrench in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wrench.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: tool — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A metal tool for gripping and turning nuts and bolts; in the UK it is usually called a spanner.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:m1:1
# text = A metal tool for gripping and turning nuts and bolts; in the UK it is usually called a spanner.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	gripping	grip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	conj	_	_
8	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	bolts	bolt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
17	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	spanner	spanner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grip** | gerund | a metal tool *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **turn** | gerund | a metal tool *not said here* | nuts and bolts |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent nut=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | present · passive |  | a metal tool |  | the UK |  | usually *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pull or twist something suddenly and hard: wrench the door open.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:m2:1
# text = To pull or twist something suddenly and hard: wrench the door open.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pull	pull	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	twist	twist	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	wrench	wrench	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **twist** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **wrench** | infinitive |  | the door |  |  |  | open *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer door=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To injure a joint by twisting it: wrench your ankle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:m3:1
# text = To injure a joint by twisting it: wrench your ankle.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	injure	injure	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	joint	joint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	twisting	twist	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	wrench	wrench	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **injure** | to-infinitive |  | a joint |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **twist** | gerund |  | joint |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **wrench** | infinitive |  | your ankle |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sad feeling when you have to leave someone or something: leaving home was a wrench.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:m4:1
# text = A sad feeling when you have to leave someone or something: leaving home was a wrench.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	csubj	_	_
14	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	wrench	wrench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 3 | **leave** | gerund |  | home |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | past | leaving | a wrench |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the wrench so I can tighten the bolt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x1:1
# text = Pass me the wrench so I can tighten the bolt.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wrench	wrench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bolt	bolt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the wrench | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient wrench=Theme |
| 2 | **tighten** | can | I | the bolt |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent bolt=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wrenched the lid off the jar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x2:1
# text = He wrenched the lid off the jar.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrenched	wrench	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrench** | past | He | the lid |  | the jar |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent lid=Theme off jar=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wrenched her ankle playing netball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x3:1
# text = She wrenched her ankle playing netball.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrenched	wrench	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	ankle	ankle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	playing	play	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	netball	netball	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 | **wrench** | past | She | her ankle |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ankle=Patient |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | She *not said here* | netball |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent netball=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving the old house was a real wrench.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x4:1
# text = Leaving the old house was a real wrench.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	wrench	wrench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | gerund |  | the old house |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent house=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Leaving | a real wrench |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind wrenched the umbrella from my hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x5:1
# text = The wind wrenched the umbrella from my hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	wrenched	wrench	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrench** | participle | the wind *not said here* | the umbrella |  | my hand |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent umbrella=Theme from hand=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad used a wrench to fix the bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x6:1
# text = Dad used a wrench to fix the bike.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wrench	wrench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bike	bike	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 | **use** | past | Dad | a wrench |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wrench=Patient |
| 2 | **fix** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the bike |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent bike=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wrench:x7:1
# text = Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover.
1	Directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	wrenched	wrench	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past · passive |  | the box |  | my hands |  | off the cover; directly, wrench *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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