---
title: apply — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «apply» in the school dictionary: To apply means to put something on a surface, like cream on skin or glue on paper. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apply/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/) / apply

# apply

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Dad, rule, discount, same thing · **What happens:** apply, mean, put, ask, fill, use · **To what, where:** something, surface, form, rule, idea, situation · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«apply» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [apply in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/apply.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To apply means to put something on a surface, like cream on skin or glue on paper.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:m1:1
# text = To apply means to put something on a surface, like cream on skin or glue on paper.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **put** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  | a surface |  | like cream on skin or glue on paper | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme on surface=Destination |

<!-- .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 apply for something means to ask for it officially, often by filling in a form, like a job or a school place.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:m2:1
# text = To apply for something means to ask for it officially, often by filling in a form, like a job or a school place.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	filling	fill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent for something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for it; officially *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **fill** | gerund |  |  |  | a form |  | often *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To apply a rule or idea means to use it in a situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:m3:1
# text = To apply a rule or idea means to use it in a situation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | to-infinitive |  | a rule or idea |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **use** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | idea |  | a situation |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To apply to someone means to be about them or matter for them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:m4:1
# text = To apply to someone means to be about them or matter for them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	ccomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	matter	matter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about them *= they* | tree rules |
| 4 | **matter** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for them *= they* | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Apply sun cream before you go out in the sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x1:1
# text = Apply sun cream before you go out in the sun.
1	Apply	apply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | imperative | you *not said here* | sun cream |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cream=Theme |
| 2 | **go out** | present | you |  |  | the sun. |  | out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad applied for a new job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x2:1
# text = Dad applied for a new job.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	applied	apply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  | for a new job | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent for job=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Apply the glue thinly and press the paper down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x3:1
# text = Apply the glue thinly and press the paper down.
1	Apply	apply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	thinly	thinly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	press	press	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | imperative | you *not said here* | the glue |  |  |  | thinly *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent glue=Theme |
| 2 | **press down** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the paper |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paper=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now apply what you learned to these new sums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x4:1
# text = Now apply what you learned to these new sums.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	_
2	apply	apply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sums	sum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | now |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **learn** | past | you |  |  |  |  | to this new sums | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rule about phones applies to everyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x5:1
# text = The rule about phones applies to everyone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	applies	apply	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | present | the rule about phones |  |  |  |  | to everyone | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press on the cut to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x6:1
# text = Press on the cut to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.
1	Press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	pressure	pressure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bleeding	bleeding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | to-infinitive |  | pressure |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pressure=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | infinitive |  | the bleeding |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality bleeding=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister applied to a new high school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x7:1
# text = My sister applied to a new high school.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	applied	apply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	school	school	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 | **apply** | participle |  | My sister *not said here* |  |  |  | to a new high school | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This discount does not apply to toys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x8:1
# text = This discount does not apply to toys.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	discount	discount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **apply** | present · do-support | this discount |  |  |  |  | to toys | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The same thing applies to you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apply:x9:1
# text = The same thing applies to you.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	applies	apply	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | present | the same thing |  | you |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [applied](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/applied/)
- next →: [appoint](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/appoint/)
- ↑ back to [A in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/)