---
title: amuse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «amuse» in the school dictionary: To amuse someone is to make them laugh or smile. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# amuse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, clown, joke, Her, We, toys · **What happens:** amuse, be, laugh, smile, not get, joke · **To what, where:** someone, children, whole class, ourselves, train, baby · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To amuse someone is to make them laugh or smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:m1:1
# text = To amuse someone is to make them laugh or smile.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	amuse	amuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	smile	smile	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amuse** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **smile** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 amuse someone is to keep them busy and interested so they do not get bored.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:m2:1
# text = To amuse someone is to keep them busy and interested so they do not get bored.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	amuse	amuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	interested	interested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
16	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amuse** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | busy, keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **get** | present · do-support | they |  |  |  |  | bored *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clown amused the children with silly tricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x1:1
# text = The clown amused the children with silly tricks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clown	clown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	amused	amuse	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	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amuse** | past | the clown | the children |  |  |  | with silly tricks | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus child=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her joke amused the whole class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x2:1
# text = Her joke amused the whole class.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	amused	amuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	class	class	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 | **amuse** | past | Her joke | the whole class |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus class=Experiencer |
| 2 | **joke** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We amused ourselves with card games on the train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x3:1
# text = We amused ourselves with card games on the train.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	amused	amuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ourselves	ourselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amuse** | past | We | ourselves |  | the train |  | with card games | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus ourselves=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toys kept the baby amused for an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x4:1
# text = The toys kept the baby amused for an hour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	amused	amuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the toys | the baby |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baby=Theme |
| 2 | **amuse** | participle |  | the baby *not said here* |  |  | hour |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher was not amused when the frog jumped out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x5:1
# text = The teacher was not amused when the frog jumped out.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	amused	amused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	jumped	jump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  | amused *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **jump out** | past | the frog |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's funny voices always amuse me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x6:1
# text = Dad's funny voices always amuse me.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	6	advmod	_	_
6	amuse	amuse	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amuse** | present | Dad's funny voices | me |  |  |  | always *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:amuse:x7:1
# text = “Now let us see what we can do to amuse ourselves.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	amuse	amuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	ourselves	ourselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | us |  |  | now |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** *in a quote* | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | can | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **amuse** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | we *not said here* | ourselves |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus ourselves=Experiencer |

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**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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