---
title: wriggling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wriggling» in the school dictionary: Wriggling means twisting and turning your body with quick small movements. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wriggling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Wriggling, wriggling worm, you, puppy, fish, He · **What happens:** mean, twist, turn, try, avoid, do · **To what, where:** body, something, difficult situation, wriggling, arms, line

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wriggling means twisting and turning your body with quick small movements.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:m1:1
# text = Wriggling means twisting and turning your body with quick small movements.
1	Wriggling	wriggling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	twisting	twist	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	movements	movement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Wriggling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **twist** *not said to happen* | gerund | Wriggling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **turn** | gerund | Wriggling *not said here* | your body |  |  |  | with quick small movements | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent body=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Wriggling (out of something) means trying to avoid doing something or to escape from a difficult situation.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:m2:1
# text = Wriggling (out of something) means trying to avoid doing something or to escape from a difficult situation.
1	Wriggling	wriggling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Wriggling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **try** *not said to happen* | gerund | Wriggling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **avoid** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Wriggling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | gerund | Wriggling *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **escape** | to-infinitive | Wriggling *not said here* |  |  | a difficult situation |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from situation=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wriggling worm came up after the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x1:1
# text = A wriggling worm came up after the rain.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wriggling	wriggling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	worm	worm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come up** | past | a wriggling worm |  |  |  | after the rain |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop wriggling and sit still!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x2:1
# text = Stop wriggling and sit still!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	wriggling	wriggling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* | wriggling |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality wriggling=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sit** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | still |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy kept wriggling out of my arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x3:1
# text = The puppy kept wriggling out of my arms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the puppy |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wriggle** | gerund | the puppy *not said here* |  |  | my arms |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish was wriggling on the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x4:1
# text = The fish was wriggling on the line.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wriggle** | past · progressive | the fish |  |  | the line |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was wriggling out of doing the washing-up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x5:1
# text = He was wriggling out of doing the washing-up.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wriggle** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | He *not said here* | the washing up |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent up=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby was wriggling in her pram.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x6:1
# text = The baby was wriggling in her pram.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pram	pram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wriggle** | past · progressive | the baby |  |  | baby's pram |  |  | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The caterpillar was wriggling along the leaf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x7:1
# text = The caterpillar was wriggling along the leaf.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wriggle** | past · progressive | the caterpillar |  |  |  |  | along the leaf | vn body\_internal\_motion-49.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was wriggling her body in distress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wriggling:x8:1
# text = She was wriggling her body in distress.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	wriggling	wriggle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wriggle** | past · progressive | She | her body |  | distress |  |  | 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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