---
title: attempted — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «attempted» in the school dictionary: Attempted means tried to do something, especially something difficult. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# attempted

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** She, He, They, police, Tom, 2 · **What happens:** attempt, mean, try, do, describe, not complete · **To what, where:** something, crime, theft, high jump, questions, test · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Attempted means tried to do something, especially something difficult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:m1:1
# text = Attempted means tried to do something, especially something difficult.
1	Attempted	attempt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
10	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Attempted describes a crime or act that was tried but not completed: «attempted theft».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:m2:1
# text = Attempted describes a crime or act that was tried but not completed: «attempted theft».
1	Attempted	attempt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	mark	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	completed	complete	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	theft	theft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **describe** | present |  | a crime or act |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP to be ADJ»: agent=Agent crime=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **try** | past · passive |  | a crime or act |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **complete** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn complete-55.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **attempt** *in a quote* | past |  | theft |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent theft=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She attempted the high jump three times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x1:1
# text = She attempted the high jump three times.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	jump	jump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | past | She | the high jump |  |  | time |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent jump=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He attempted all the questions in the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x2:1
# text = He attempted all the questions in the test.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	5	det:predet	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	test	test	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 | **attempt** | past | He | all questions |  | the test |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They attempted to climb the mountain but turned back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x3:1
# text = They attempted to climb the mountain but turned back.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **climb** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 3 | **turn back** | past | They *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn banish-10.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police arrested a man for attempted theft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x4:1
# text = The police arrested a man for attempted theft.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	theft	theft	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 | **arrest** | past | the police | a man |  |  |  | for attempted theft | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent man=Patient for theft=Theme |
| 2 | **attempt** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom attempted 12 sums and got 10 right, so 2 were wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x5:1
# text = Tom attempted 12 sums and got 10 right, so 2 were wrong.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	sums	sum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	_
8	right	right	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | past | Tom | 12 sums |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sum=Eventuality |
| 2 | **get** | past | Tom *not said here* | 10 |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer 10=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is** | past | 2 |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat attempted to catch the bird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x6:1
# text = The cat attempted to catch the bird.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **catch** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the cat *not said here* | the bird |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One even attempted to tie strings to his feet and his hands to make him dance.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attempted:x7:1
# text = One even attempted to tie strings to his feet and his hands to make him dance.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	even	even	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	attempted	attempt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	dance	dance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attempt** | participle · passive |  | One |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tie** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | strings |  |  |  | to his feet and his hands | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent string=Patient to foot=Co-Patient |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **dance** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=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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