---
title: approve — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «approve» in the school dictionary: To think that something or someone is good, right or acceptable ("approve of"). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# approve

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, idea, parents, head teacher, Mum, council · **What happens:** think, be, approve, agree, allow, happen · **To what, where:** idea, something, it, design, class trip, front · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«approve» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [approve in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/approve.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To think that something or someone is good, right or acceptable ("approve of").

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:m1:1
# text = To think that something or someone is good, right or acceptable ("approve of").
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	acceptable	acceptable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	approve	approve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **approve** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 officially agree to a plan, request or idea and allow it to happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:m2:1
# text = To officially agree to a plan, request or idea and allow it to happen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	agree	agree	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	request	request	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	allow	allow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to a plan or idea; officially *property* | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **allow** | infinitive |  | idea |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Causer it=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **happen** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say yes to something after checking it, like approving a design.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:m3:1
# text = To say yes to something after checking it, like approving a design.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	checking	check	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	approving	approve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  | something |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent yes=Topic to something=Recipient |
| 2 | **check** | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **approve** | gerund |  | a design |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent design=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My parents approve of my new friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x1:1
# text = My parents approve of my new friend.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	approve	approve	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	friend	friend	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 | **approve** | present | My parents |  |  |  |  | of my new friend | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher approved the class trip to the zoo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x2:1
# text = The head teacher approved the class trip to the zoo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	approved	approve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approve** | past | the head teacher | the class trip |  |  |  | to the zoo | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trip=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum doesn't approve of eating in front of the TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x3:1
# text = Mum doesn't approve of eating in front of the TV.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	approve	approve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **approve** | present · do-support | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | Mum *not said here* |  |  | front of the TV |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council approved the plans for a new library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x4:1
# text = The council approved the plans for a new library.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	approved	approve	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	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approve** | past | the council | the plans |  |  |  | for a new library | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This toy has been approved as safe for small children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x5:1
# text = This toy has been approved as safe for small children.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	approved	approve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approve** | present · perfect · passive |  | this toy |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bank approved the loan for the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x6:1
# text = The bank approved the loan for the house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	approved	approve	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	loan	loan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approve** | past | the bank | the loan |  |  |  | for the house | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent loan=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I hope the teacher approves my project idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x7:1
# text = I hope the teacher approves my project idea.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hope	hope	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	approves	approve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hope** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **approve** | present | the teacher | my project idea |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toto did not approve of this new comrade at first, for he could not forget how nearly he had been crushed between the Lion’s great jaws.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approve:x8:1
# text = Toto did not approve of this new comrade at first, for he could not forget how nearly he had been crushed between the Lion’s great jaws.
1	Toto	Toto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	approve	approve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	comrade	comrade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
17	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	18	advmod	_	_
18	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
19	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	crushed	crush	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	advcl	_	_
23	between	between	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	’s	's	PART	POS	_	25	case	_	_
27	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **approve** | past · do-support | Toto |  |  |  |  | of this new comrade | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **forget** | could | Toto |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **crush** | past · perfect · passive |  | Toto |  |  |  | between the Lion's great jaws; nearly *property* | vn carve-21.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- 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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