---
title: adopt — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «adopt» in the school dictionary: To take a child into your family legally and raise them as your own. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# adopt

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, They, We, school, class, council · **What happens:** take, raise, care, start, use, behave · **To what, where:** child, family, them, pet, shelter, new idea

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take a child into your family legally and raise them as your own.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:m1:1
# text = To take a child into your family legally and raise them as your own.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	legally	legally	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	raise	raise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | a child |  | your family |  | legally *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent child=Theme into family=Destination |
| 2 | **raise** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | as your own | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 -->
To take a pet home from a shelter to care for.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:m2:1
# text = To take a pet home from a shelter to care for.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | a pet |  | a shelter |  | home *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent pet=Theme from shelter=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **care** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To start using a new idea, plan, method or way of behaving.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:m3:1
# text = To start using a new idea, plan, method or way of behaving.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	behaving	behave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  | a new idea and plan and method or way |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |
| 3 | **behave** | gerund | way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To vote to accept a plan or law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:m4:1
# text = To vote to accept a plan or law.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	vote	vote	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	accept	accept	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **accept** | to-infinitive |  | a plan or law |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They adopted a baby girl from overseas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x1:1
# text = They adopted a baby girl from overseas.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	overseas	overseas	ADV	RB	_	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adopt** | past | They | a baby girl |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent girl=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We adopted a cat from the animal shelter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x2:1
# text = We adopted a cat from the animal shelter.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adopt** | past | We | a cat |  | the animal shelter |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school adopted a new uniform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x3:1
# text = The school adopted a new uniform.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adopt** | past | the school | a new uniform |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent uniform=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class adopted a penguin at the zoo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x4:1
# text = Our class adopted a penguin at the zoo.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	penguin	penguin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	zoo	zoo	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 | **adopt** | past | Our class | a penguin |  | the zoo |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent penguin=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council adopted the plan to build a park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x5:1
# text = The council adopted the plan to build a park.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adopt** | past | the council | the plan |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Theme |
| 2 | **build** | to-infinitive | the council *not said here* | a park |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset park=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She adopted a new way of studying and her marks improved.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x6:1
# text = She adopted a new way of studying and her marks improved.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	adopted	adopt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	studying	study	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	improved	improve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **adopt** | past | She | a new way |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Theme |
| 2 | **study** | gerund | a new way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **improve** | past | her marks |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **mark** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mark «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have been recommended to adopt a diction not too remote from that of the Authorised Version.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:adopt:x7:1
# text = I have been recommended to adopt a diction not too remote from that of the Authorised Version.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	recommended	recommend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	adopt	adopt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	diction	diction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	remote	remote	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	Authorised	authorise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	Version	version	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **recommend** | present · perfect · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **adopt** | to-infinitive |  | a diction |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent diction=Theme |
| 3 | **authorise** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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