---
title: acquiring — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «acquiring» in the school dictionary: Acquiring means getting or gaining something, often by buying it or by effort. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# acquiring

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Acquiring, She, museum, We, company, He · **What happens:** acquire, mean, get, gain, buy, learn · **To what, where:** something, it, skill, habit, taste, new dinosaur skeleton · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Acquiring means getting or gaining something, often by buying it or by effort.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:m1:1
# text = Acquiring means getting or gaining something, often by buying it or by effort.
1	Acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	gaining	gain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **gain** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 5 | **buy** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  | often *property* | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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 -->
Acquiring a skill or habit means learning it over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:m2:1
# text = Acquiring a skill or habit means learning it over time.
1	Acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | gerund |  | a skill or habit |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset skill=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Acquiring |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **learn** *not said to happen* | gerund | Acquiring *not said here* | habit |  |  | time |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is acquiring a taste for spicy food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x1:1
# text = She is acquiring a taste for spicy food.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	taste	taste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	spicy	spicy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | present · progressive | She | a taste |  |  |  | for spicy food | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent taste=Theme for food=Asset |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum is acquiring a new dinosaur skeleton.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x2:1
# text = The museum is acquiring a new dinosaur skeleton.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	skeleton	skeleton	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 | **acquire** | present · progressive | the museum | a new dinosaur skeleton |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset skeleton=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are acquiring new words every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x3:1
# text = We are acquiring new words every day.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | present · progressive | We | new words |  |  | day |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Acquiring a second language takes practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x4:1
# text = Acquiring a second language takes practice.
1	Acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	amod	_	_
4	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | gerund |  | a second language |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset language=Theme |
| 2 | **take** | present | Acquiring | practice |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent practice=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company is acquiring a smaller shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x5:1
# text = The company is acquiring a smaller shop.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	shop	shop	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 | **acquire** | present · progressive | the company | a smaller shop |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset shop=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is acquiring quite a collection of stamps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:acquiring:x6:1
# text = He is acquiring quite a collection of stamps.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	acquiring	acquire	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	quite	quite	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	6	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	collection	collection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	stamps	stamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **acquire** | present · progressive | He | quite collection of stamps |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent collection=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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